Compare towns
Whately vs Reading vs Conway vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Oakham has the youngest population (median age 49).
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 | Reading | Conway | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,499 |
699Lowest |
1,755Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
55.6±3Highest 43% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Conway and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Reading 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 44% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$97,250±$11k 20% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$395,900±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| 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 31% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,800±$990Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Conway and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027 61% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,797Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Whately | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Conway | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.