Compare towns
Whately vs Dover 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 the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k median).
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 | Dover | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
5,930Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Dover and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oakham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Whately 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.