Compare towns
Sharon vs Dorset 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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
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 | Dorset | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
2,092 |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
| Dorset and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Dorset 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% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Dorset 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 4% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Lowest 12% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Lowest 17% above VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.