Compare towns
Sharon vs Dedham vs Barnet 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
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Dedham | Barnet | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,855 |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% 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% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Dedham | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.