What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the youngest population (median age 49).

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Oakham	Strafford
People
Population	1,639Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford 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%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Oakham 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 26% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford 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±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Strafford and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Oakham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.