Compare towns
Otis vs Reading vs Tyringham 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 the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Tyringham has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Tyringham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
25,612Highest |
494Lowest |
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±3.2 28% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest 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%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Otis 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% |
66.3%Highest 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% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Tyringham 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 |
$163,333±$28k 57% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Tyringham 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$699,400±$96k 24% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Reading and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,174±$81 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 |
$4,632 23% below 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% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Tyringham 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% 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 |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Tyringham 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 | Reading | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.