What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Hancock	Oakham
People
Population	752Lowest	1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±11.1Lowest 18% above MA	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA
	Oakham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hancock and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hancock and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,250±$26kLowest 7% below MA	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average
	Oakham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
	Hancock and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,018Lowest 83% below MA	$4,103Highest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±36.3Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hancock and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 25% below MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	10.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hancock and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hancock	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.