Compare towns
Oakham vs Otis vs Upton vs Whately
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 homeowners (91.6%).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($397k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Otis | Upton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,624 |
8,189Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Otis 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 |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Upton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$977±$125 45% below MA |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Otis 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.