Compare towns
Oakham vs Oxford vs Sutton
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 oldest population (median age 49).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Oxford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
13,385Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Oakham and Sutton 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% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Sutton 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% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Sutton 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Sutton 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 |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,177±$142 33% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 |
$4,622 23% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Sutton 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 | — | #245 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Oxford | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Oxford High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.