Compare towns
Otis vs Walden vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Walden | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,037Lowest |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden 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±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.