Compare towns
Peru vs Oakham vs Blandford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Blandford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
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 | Peru | Oakham | Blandford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,156 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
52.9±4.3Highest 32% above MA |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.8%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$91,902±$13k 12% below MA |
| Oakham and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$287,900±$18k 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,047±$459Lowest 41% below MA |
| Oakham and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$4,103Highest 32% below MA |
$3,641Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blandford and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.8%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school 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.