Compare towns
Norwich vs Sharon vs Sheldon
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).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Sharon | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,577Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Sharon and Sheldon 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% |
21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Sheldon 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% 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 |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Norwich and Sharon 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% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.