Compare towns
Whately vs Athol vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Whately | Athol | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
12,011Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| Oakham and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Athol 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Athol-Royalston | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.