What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).

Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).

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	Hardwick
People
Population	1,639Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	Oakham and Hardwick 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%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick 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%	22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hardwick 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%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick 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	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
	Oakham and Hardwick 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	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
	Oakham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
	Oakham and Hardwick 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	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick 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%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Oakham and Hardwick 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	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Quabbin
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.