Compare towns
Sharon vs Williston vs Norwich vs Cavendish
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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Williston | Norwich | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
10,144Highest |
3,640 |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Sharon and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest 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%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 4% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Norwich School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.