What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).

Pepperell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	1,639Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell and Oakham 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Oakham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell 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±$20kLowest about the MA average	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
	Pepperell and Oakham 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	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA
	Pepperell and Oakham 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	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell 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%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	North Middlesex
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.