Compare towns
Whately vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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.
| Measure | Whately | Salisbury | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,499Lowest |
9,281Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
| Salisbury and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest 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%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Whately 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Salisbury and Whately 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 |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Oakham 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Salisbury 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Whately | Triton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.