Compare towns
Oakham vs Peru vs Rowe
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 expensive homes ($420k median).
Peru has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Peru | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Highest |
630 |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA |
| Peru and Oakham 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% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
— | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Highest 32% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Oakham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Peru and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Quabbin | — | Rowe |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.