Compare towns
Oakham vs Plainfield 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 youngest population (median age 49).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Highest |
616Lowest |
1,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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±$20k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately 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±$20k 25% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Quabbin | — | Whately |
| 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.