Compare towns
Oakham vs Ayer vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Oakham | Ayer | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
3,098Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| Otis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$4,911Highest 18% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.