Compare towns
Sharon vs Bow vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Bow | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
8,335Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Bow School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.