What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

Oakham has the most people working from home (9.6%).

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	New Braintree	Oakham
People
Population	973Lowest	1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±4.6Lowest 20% above MA	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA
	Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	New Braintree and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	New Braintree and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,500±$8kLowest 4% below MA	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average
	Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,800±$27kLowest 27% below MA	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA
	Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,484±$316Highest 16% below MA	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
	New Braintree and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,508Highest 8% below MA	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±51.2Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	New Braintree and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 26% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	7.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	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.