What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Union has the most affordable homes ($330k 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	Union
People
Population	1,639Highest	944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S.	49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S.
	Union and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Oakham and Union 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%	24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Union 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 U.S.: 35.7%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Union 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.	$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Oakham and Union 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.	$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81 17% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S.	$4,793Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union 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%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Oakham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	Union 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.