Compare towns
Fairfield vs Oakham vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Fairfield | Oakham | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
1,639Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quabbin | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.