Compare towns

Sharon vs Reading vs Jericho 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

MeasureSharonReadingJerichoNorwich
People
Population
1,577
699Lowest
5,114Highest
3,640
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±7.7
6% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
49.7±5.1
15% above VT
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% below VT
Reading and Jericho 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%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.1Highest
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%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.2%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Reading 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
65.3%
VT: 43.8%
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.6
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
Norwich and Reading 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
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$116,923±$16k
44% above VT
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
Norwich and Jericho 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
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$493,100±$38k
56% above VT
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,386±$155
12% above VT
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
$1,731±$111Highest
40% above VT
$1,460±$322
18% above VT
Jericho and Norwich 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
$5,754Lowest
14% above VT
$7,318
45% above VT
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
79.3%±52.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.7%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
Jericho and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
2.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
12% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
26 min
10% above VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
Work from home
12.7%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
21.8%±6.4
VT: 16.9%
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Jericho 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 — — #6 of 70 in VT #1 of 70 in VT
School district Sharon School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Norwich School District
High school in town None in town None in town Mt. Mansfield Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.0
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.