Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Olean 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
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
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.
| Measure | Sharon | Strafford | Olean | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
13,738Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 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%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Olean 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 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±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below 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±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% 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. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #337 of 484 in NY | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.