Compare towns
Sharon vs Gorham 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
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
18,300Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Norwich 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% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Norwich 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. |
$4,825Lowest 55% 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% |
37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Norwich 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Gorham Public Schools | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.