Compare towns
Sharon vs Bennington vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most homeowners (79.7%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Sharon | Bennington | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
15,249Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
| Sharon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Sharon 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% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Bennington 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 |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% 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 | $5,903 17% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.