Compare towns
Belvidere vs Guildhall vs Oakham vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Guildhall has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Montgomery has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Belvidere | Guildhall | Oakham | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422 |
371Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the U.S. average |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$868±$209 39% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,326 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 42% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Quabbin | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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.