Compare towns
Sharon vs Barnet vs Norwich vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Sharon | Barnet | Norwich | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,855 |
3,640Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 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+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% 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 | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 17% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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 | Sharon School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Norwich School District | Strafford School District |
| 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.