Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0Oakham spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar towns
Oakham’s town government spent $1.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $883 per resident.
What stands out about how Oakham is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$883 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them
Oakham’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($883 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $2,141, and the middle half spent $1,670–$2,676. Oakham spent less than 100% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Oakham itself left out).
About $883 per resident a year, or $2.42 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 20%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Oakham reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,103 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.98% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Oakham’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Oakham’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Oakham →
Who’s in charge in Oakham
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Oakham’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on oakham-ma.gov ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 650 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,950).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Quabbin School District
Oakham’s K–12 school district, shared with Barre, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $20,660 per pupil, $11,280 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Oakham voted in 2024
Official results for Oakham’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican57.0%720 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat40.7%514 votesOthers: 2.3% (29 votes).
Most votes in Oakham: Donald J Trump
Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Oakham’s 1,315 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Oakham: John Deaton
Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: James P Mc Govern
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Oakham, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham | 57.0% | 40.7% | 2.3% | 1,263 |
| Worcester County | 43.7% | 53.6% | 2.7% | 420,841 |
| Massachusetts | 36.0% | 61.2% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Oakham.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: oakham-ma.gov ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Oakham compares with the towns next door
Oakham spent $883 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,169 to $2,021. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Oakham’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Oakham’s government
How much does Oakham spend per resident?
About $883 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $883 was less than 100% of 34 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Oakham?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,103 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.98% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see oakham-ma.gov.
Who runs Oakham’s government?
See oakham-ma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Oakham yet.
How did Oakham vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 57.0%, Kamala D Harris 40.7% (1,263 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Oakham?
3 full-time and 23 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $60,764 (about $729,168 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Oakham in the state legislature?
State Senate District Worcester and Hampshire (Peter Durant) and State House District 5th Worcester (Donnie Berthiaume). The House district also covers 11 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Oakham’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →