Compare towns

Oakham vs Reading 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).

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.

MeasureOakhamReadingOtis
People
Population
1,639Highest
699Lowest
1,624
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3Lowest
26% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
51±3.2
31% above U.S.
Reading and Otis 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%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$20k
26% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$108,898±$6kHighest
35% above U.S.
Otis 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.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% 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±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,318±$924Highest
7% below U.S.
Otis and Oakham 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.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$2,408Lowest
23% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
33 minLowest
25% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
Work from home
9.6%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Quabbin Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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.