Compare towns
Unity vs Oakham vs Alexandria
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Alexandria has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Unity | Oakham | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
1,639 |
1,983Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
52.6±5 35% above U.S. |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$89,194±$8k 10% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$323,300±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,135±$273Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Unity and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,021 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±40.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alexandria and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 32% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alexandria and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Unity School District | Quabbin | — |
| High school 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.