Compare towns
Jefferson vs Oakham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Jefferson | Oakham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,321Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 31% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quabbin | Washington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.