Compare towns
Northfield vs Windham 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
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Northfield | Windham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
19,188Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Windham 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. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Windham and Northfield 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Windham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Windham 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | RSU 14 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.