Compare towns
Oakham vs Mendon vs Otis vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Whately has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Mendon | Otis | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,624 |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Whately and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Otis and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Quabbin | — | Farmington River Reg | Whately |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.