Compare towns
Oakham vs Springfield vs Otis 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%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Springfield | Otis | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
154,749Highest |
1,624 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Otis and Whately 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately 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±$20k 25% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| 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% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Springfield | Farmington River Reg | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.