Compare towns
Sharon vs Norwich vs Cavendish vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Norwich | Cavendish | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
3,640Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| 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 4% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| 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 17% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Norwich School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.