Compare towns
Norwich vs Sharon vs Strafford vs Williston
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 most affordable homes ($347k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Strafford | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Strafford and Sharon 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Strafford 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford 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±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Norwich and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Norwich 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Norwich 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.