Compare towns
Norwich vs Ryegate vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Norwich | Ryegate | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,059Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Sharon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.