Compare towns
Oakham vs Sheldon vs Otis
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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
2,267Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham 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% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Oakham 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% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham 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±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis 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. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis 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% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Sheldon 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 | Farmington River Reg |
| 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.