What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).

Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Preston
People
Population	1,639Lowest	4,821Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S.	46.2±7Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Oakham and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Preston 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 U.S.: 17.2%	23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Preston and Oakham 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 U.S.: 35.7%	28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Preston 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 26% above U.S.	$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.
	Preston 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 26% above U.S.	$361,900±$13kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average
	Preston 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% above U.S.	$4,749Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Preston and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Preston and Oakham 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	—	#93 of 149 in CT
School district	Quabbin	Preston School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.