Compare towns
Oakham vs Preston vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Preston | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
4,821Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
46.2±7Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest 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%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis and Preston 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% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
| Preston and Otis 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. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
| Preston and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,749Highest 52% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Preston 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Preston 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 | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.