Compare towns
Addison vs Mendon vs Oakham vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the highest household income ($107k).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Addison | Mendon | Oakham | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
1,113 |
1,639Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Addison and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Addison and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 9% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Waltham 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 | 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.