What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Oakham	Rowe
People
Population	1,639Highest	453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA	48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA
	Oakham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	23%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rowe 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 MA: 17.9%	30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Rowe 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 MA: 47.3%	26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average	$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA
	Oakham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA	$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA	$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA
	Rowe and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Highest 32% below MA	$1,458Lowest 76% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8%	11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Oakham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	15.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	36 minLowest 22% above MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%	7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Oakham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	Rowe
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.