Compare towns
Oakham vs Lenox 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).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.
| Measure | Oakham | Lenox | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
5,079 |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Lenox 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 |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Lenox and Rutland 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 |
$1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Oakham and Lenox 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 |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$5,657Highest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rutland and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox and Rutland 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 | — | #90 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lenox | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6 |
— |
| 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.