What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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	Leicester	Oxford
People
Population	11,113Lowest	13,385Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.5Highest 6% above MA	42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA
	Leicester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oxford and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Leicester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oxford and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,173±$9kHighest about the MA average	$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average
	Leicester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$23kHighest 27% below MA	$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA
	Leicester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA	$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA
	Leicester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,452Lowest 26% below MA	$4,622Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	28 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	13.1%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Oxford and Leicester 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	#222 of 282 in MA	#245 of 282 in MA
School district	Leicester	Oxford
High school in town	Leicester High	Oxford High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.