Compare towns
Oakham vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh vs Spencer
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 highest household income ($102k).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Enosburgh | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
2,267 |
2,804 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Spencer 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Spencer 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% 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 | $4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Sheldon 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.