What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Whately	Oakham
People
Population	1,499Lowest	1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA	49±2.3Lowest 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%	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Whately 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%	21.4%±2.3Lowest 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%	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oakham and Whately 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	$102,000±$20kLowest 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	$420,100±$20kLowest 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	$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA
	Oakham and Whately 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	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±29Lowest 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%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Whately	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.