Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Strafford | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
4,306Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
17.6%±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% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Norwich 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. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% 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% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 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 |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | 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.