Compare towns
Sandgate vs Oakham vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Ira has the most renters (9.3% 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 | Sandgate | Oakham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
1,639Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ira and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school 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.