Compare towns
Windsor vs Salem 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 highest household income ($116k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Windsor | Salem | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
44,795Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
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%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Windsor 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Windsor and Oakham 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Oakham 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Salem | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.