Compare towns
Maynard vs Oakham vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k 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.
| Measure | Maynard | Oakham | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
1,639Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
| Cheshire and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cheshire and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
| Maynard and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Maynard and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.