What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).

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.

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

Measure	Oakham	Whately
People
Population	1,639Highest	1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA	49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA
	Whately 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 MA: 19.4%	16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Whately 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%	24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Whately 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 MA: 47.3%	47.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Whately 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 about the MA average	$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA
	Whately 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 25% 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±$81Highest 33% below MA	$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA
	Oakham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA	$5,027Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8%	26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Oakham and Whately 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%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Quabbin	Whately
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.