What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashby	Oakham
People
Population	3,211Highest	1,639Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Highest 26% above MA	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA
	Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA	$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average
	Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA
	Oakham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
	Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,034Highest about the MA average	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashby and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashby and Oakham 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	#200 of 282 in MA	—
School district	North Middlesex	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.