Compare towns
Sharon vs Exeter vs Cavendish 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
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Exeter | Cavendish | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
913Lowest |
1,242 |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Cavendish 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. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and Cavendish 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 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 9% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Cavendish 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 | 18 photos → | 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.