Compare towns

Sharon vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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.

MeasureSharonWindhamNorwich
People
Population
1,577Lowest
19,188Highest
3,640
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±7.7Highest
17% above U.S.
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
Sharon and Windham 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%
19.2%±2.7Lowest
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%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Windham 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.
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$346,700±$37kLowest
4% above U.S.
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,386±$155
about the U.S. average
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% 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.
$3,938Lowest
26% 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%
32.7%±14.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham 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%
3.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%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 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
12.7%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Norwich and Windham 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 — #95 of 133 in ME #1 of 70 in VT
School district Sharon School District RSU 14 Norwich School District
High school in town None in town Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
—
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.