Compare towns
Oakham vs Reading 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 most homeowners (91.6%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Reading | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
25,612Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Reading 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Whately 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Reading | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.