Compare towns
Northfield vs Oakham vs Ogunquit vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Northfield | Oakham | Ogunquit | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872Highest |
1,639 |
1,379Lowest |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Whately and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 19% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,027Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #231 of 282 in MA | — | — | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Quabbin | — | Whately |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.