Compare towns

Oakham vs Conway vs New Braintree

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 expensive homes ($420k median).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
New Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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.

MeasureOakhamConwayNew Braintree
People
Population
1,639
1,755Highest
973Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
MA: +7.4%
-7.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-0.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3
23% above MA
55.6±3Highest
39% above MA
47.8±4.6Lowest
20% above MA
Kids under 18
18.2%±3.1
MA: 19.4%
16.5%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
New Braintree and Oakham 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%
31.9%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
25.6%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Conway and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
60.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.6%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Oakham and New Braintree 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
$97,250±$11kLowest
6% below MA
$99,500±$8k
4% below MA
Oakham and New Braintree 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
$395,900±$25kLowest
30% below MA
$408,800±$27k
27% below MA
Oakham and New Braintree 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
$1,800±$990Highest
about the MA average
$1,484±$316
16% below MA
Conway and New Braintree 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
$5,797Highest
3% below MA
$5,508
8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1
MA: 51.8%
23.9%±33.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±51.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
New Braintree 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%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
MA: 62.5%
93.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
89.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1976Lowest
12 yrs newer than MA
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
32% above MA
24 minLowest
18% below MA
37 min
26% above MA
Work from home
9.6%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
29.1%±8.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.4%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
School district Quabbin Conway Quabbin
High school in town None 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.