Compare towns
Oakham vs Sharon vs New Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Oakham | Sharon | New Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Highest |
1,577 |
973Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.8±4.6 23% above U.S. |
| Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Braintree and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$99,500±$8k 23% above U.S. |
| Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$408,800±$27k 23% above U.S. |
| Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,484±$316Highest 5% above U.S. |
| New Braintree and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,508 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Braintree and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Quabbin | Sharon School District | Quabbin |
| 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.