What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlemont has the most people working from home (16.5%).

Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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.

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

Measure	Charlemont	Oakham
People
Population	1,118Lowest	1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA	$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA
	Oakham and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Highest 27% below MA	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Charlemont and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 27% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Charlemont and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hawlemont	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.