Compare towns
Halifax vs Oakham vs Marlboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Halifax | Oakham | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$77,135±$10k 4% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$357,300±$55k 7% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,600±$824Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Marlboro and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 60% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,640Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Halifax School District | Quabbin | Marlboro 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 |
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.