Compare towns
Sharon vs Castleton 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
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Castleton | Norwich | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
4,453Highest |
3,640 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% 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 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest 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%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 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+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% 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% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%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% 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 minHighest 12% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 History | 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.