Compare towns

Sheldon vs Oakham vs Proctor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

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.

MeasureSheldonOakhamProctor
People
Population
2,267Highest
1,639Lowest
1,794
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
49±2.3Highest
26% above U.S.
42.4±6.4
9% above U.S.
Oakham and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Proctor and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Oakham and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,533±$25k
about the U.S. average
$102,000±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
$74,167±$12kLowest
8% below U.S.
Oakham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
$420,100±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
$209,900±$17kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,029±$202Lowest
27% 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
$3,578Lowest
15% above U.S.
$4,103Highest
32% above U.S.
$4,032
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±69.1
U.S.: 51.1%
37.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Proctor and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Quabbin Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town None in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.7
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.