Compare towns
Windsor vs Reading 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 affordable homes ($390k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Oakham has the oldest 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 | Windsor | Reading | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
25,612Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Oakham 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Windsor 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Quabbin |
| High school 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.