Compare towns

Oakham vs Dover vs Rutland

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 affordable homes ($420k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

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.

MeasureOakhamDoverRutland
People
Population
1,639Lowest
2,308
9,353Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.3%
MA: +7.4%
+13.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3Highest
23% above MA
47.5±4
19% above MA
41.4±2.5Lowest
4% above MA
Oakham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±3.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
26.4%±5.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Rutland and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
14.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
83.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
42%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.4%±4.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,000±$20kLowest
about the MA average
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$145,707±$28k
40% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$420,100±$20kLowest
25% below MA
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
133% above MA
$462,800±$33k
18% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81Highest
33% below MA
—
$1,078±$170Lowest
39% below MA
Oakham and Rutland 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$5,657
6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.8%±26.7
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
3.3%
MA: 10%
2.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
89.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1967Lowest
3 yrs newer than MA
1990Highest
26 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
32% above MA
37 minLowest
26% above MA
37 min
27% above MA
Work from home
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
37.4%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.1%±5
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #1 of 282 in MA #150 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin — Wachusett
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.