Compare towns
Sharon vs Castleton vs Randolph 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%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Randolph has the most renters (46.4% rent).
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 | Castleton | Randolph | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,007 |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
| Randolph 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest 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%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Randolph 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% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,095±$198Lowest 11% 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Randolph 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Norwich School District |
| High school 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.