Compare towns
Oakham vs Sheldon vs Rutland
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 oldest population (median age 49).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
2,267 |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rutland and Oakham 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 |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Oakham 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. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 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. |
$5,657Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rutland 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland 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 | — | — | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wachusett |
| 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.