Compare towns
Washington vs Oakham vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Washington | Oakham | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
1,639Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.