Compare towns
Sharon vs New Gloucester 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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
New Gloucester has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | New Gloucester | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
5,766Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
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%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Norwich 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% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and New Gloucester 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 5% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% 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. |
$3,417Lowest 10% 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% |
24.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and New Gloucester 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 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% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and New Gloucester 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | 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 |
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.