What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).

Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

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	Oakham	Brookfield
People
Population	1,639Lowest	3,460Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA
	Brookfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield 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±$20kHighest about the MA average	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA
	Oakham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA
	Oakham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA	$5,092Highest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brookfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Brookfield and Oakham 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	—	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Brookfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.