Compare towns
Otis vs Ware 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 people working from home (22.3%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Ware | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
10,048Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 5% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| 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 29% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| 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 25% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| 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 60% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Otis 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%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 |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.