Compare towns
Troy vs Oakham vs Sheldon vs Westfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
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 | Troy | Oakham | Sheldon | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
1,639 |
2,267Highest |
536Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44±19.9 13% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$72,500±$30kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$301,400±$47k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$863±$187 39% 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 | $3,644 17% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,388Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westfield and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Quabbin | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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 | 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.