Compare towns
Northampton vs Oakham vs Watertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Watertown has the most expensive homes ($785k 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 | Northampton | Oakham | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962 |
1,639Lowest |
35,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
39.4±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.3%±1.6Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.3%±1.8Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$126,265±$6kHighest 21% above MA |
| Watertown and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$784,600±$31kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,502±$107Highest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 5% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,799Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
47.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 26% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Watertown and Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | — | #171 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Quabbin | Watertown |
| High school in town | Northampton High | None in town | Watertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.