What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).

Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).

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	Petersham
People
Population	1,639Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Petersham 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%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham 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	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham 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±$20kHighest 25% below MA	$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA
	Oakham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham 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	$4,636Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Oakham and Petersham 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%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 min 32% above MA	39 min 32% above MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	Petersham
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.