Compare towns
Windsor vs Petersham vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Oakham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Windsor | Petersham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
1,185 |
1,639Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Windsor and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Petersham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oakham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minLowest 27% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Petersham | Quabbin |
| High school 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.