Compare towns
Otis vs Reading vs Oakham
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 affordable homes ($397k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Reading | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
25,612Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Otis and Oakham 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Otis 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Reading 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Otis 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.