Compare towns
Oakham vs Reading vs Windsor
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 oldest population (median age 49).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
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 | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
25,612Highest |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Oakham and Windsor 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% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest 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%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Reading 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% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Windsor 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | — |
| 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.