Compare towns

Sharon vs Richmond 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).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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.

MeasureSharonRichmondNorwich
People
Population
1,577Lowest
4,159Highest
3,640
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±7.7Highest
6% above VT
43.7±5.6
about the VT average
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% below VT
Sharon and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.5%±5
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Sharon and Richmond 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%
59.1%
VT: 43.8%
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
Norwich and Richmond 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
$108,235±$24k
33% above VT
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
Norwich and Richmond 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
$432,200±$39k
37% above VT
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,386±$155Lowest
12% above VT
—
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,903Lowest
17% above VT
$6,868
36% above VT
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8
VT: 48.4%
30.7%±19.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3%
VT: 10.1%
4.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
5 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
12% above VT
25 min
6% above VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
Work from home
12.7%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Richmond and Norwich 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 — #5 of 70 in VT #1 of 70 in VT
School district Sharon School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Norwich School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.