Compare towns
Warren vs Oakham vs Palmer Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Palmer Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Warren | Oakham | Palmer Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009 |
1,639Lowest |
12,381Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
47.8±5.6 20% above MA |
| Oakham and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$78,480±$8k 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$271,400±$21kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,075±$103 39% below MA |
| Oakham and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,540Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±10.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Palmer Town and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Oakham and Warren 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #252 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Quabbin | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | Pathfinder Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.