What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).

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	Northampton	Oakham
People
Population	30,962Highest	1,639Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Oakham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average
	Oakham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA	$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA
	Northampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,680Highest 5% below MA	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 26% below MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#159 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural	Quabbin
High school in town	Northampton High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7	—
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.