Compare towns
New Braintree vs Webster vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Braintree has the most renters (10.2% rent).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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.
| Measure | New Braintree | Webster | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 973Lowest |
2,227Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±4.6 23% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Webster 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 23% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Webster and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,800±$27k 23% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| New Braintree and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,508 77% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±51.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Quabbin | Merrimack Valley School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.