Compare towns
Sharon vs Wright vs Norwich vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wright has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Wright | Norwich | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,739 |
3,640Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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% |
21.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 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% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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. |
$86,250±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% 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. |
$242,000±$36kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$953±$79Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below 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. |
$5,279Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Wright 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | — | Norwich School District | Strafford 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 | 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.