Compare towns
Otis vs Dedham vs Oakham vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Otis | Dedham | Oakham | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
25,237Highest |
1,639 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49±2.3 23% 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 | 15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Dedham | Quabbin | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.