Oakham is a tiny town nestled in the New England countryside
Oakham is a rural town tucked away in the rolling woodlands of Central Massachusetts, just 17 miles west of Worcester. Founded in the mid-1700s, it has a historic town hall, a 210-year-old church, a public library and a village green, all of which are part of an historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “It’s rural living in a very small town. It’s for people who want to get away from the city. That said, you’re still pretty close to Worcester,” says Realtor Jason Fanning of Re/Max Vision, who’s been working in real estate in the area for more than 30 years.
Outdoor recreation is a major draw in Oakham
With campgrounds situated along a small lake, a vineyard, a country club and a sprawling state forest, the outdoors are a big part of the allure. “It’s a great fit for outdoorsy people. There are hiking trails, ponds, lakes and a lot of parks around here,” Fanning says. Oakham Town Common is a quintessential village green that offers residents a place to congregate after church or town hall meetings. Wright Memorial Field is right down the street and has a baseball diamond where people gather for little league games. There’s also Lake Dean, a popular camping destination in the summer months. It's a great spot for paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing for large-mouth bass. It’s just north of Oakham State Forest, a dense woodland crisscrossed by tranquil streams and full of lush plant life. Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club, an 18-hole course that’s open to the public, is on the outskirts of town, just south of Barre.
Colonials and Cape Cods on quiet country lanes
Homes are nestled alongside country lanes that wind through scenic woodlands and meadows. Colonials, Cape Cods and English-inspired stone cottages are among the most common home designs, including a handful that date back to the 1700s and 1800s. Newer homes built within the past three decades can also be found here. Most residential properties have lots of land, with lot sizes ranging from an acre to upward of 10 acres. People living in Oakham have plenty of privacy, greenery and open space at their fingertips. The median price of a single-family home is $500,000, putting it about 18% lower than the statewide median.
Students attend schools in the Quabbin Public Schools district
Students can start at Oakham Center School, which earns a C-plus rating from Niche. School choice is an option for young kids in the Quabbin Public Schools district; it has four elementary schools to choose from. The next step is B-minus-rated Quabbin Regional Middle High School, which serves grades six through 12. The school offers plenty of electives and extracurricular activities for students, with everything from art and book clubs to varsity athletics. It enrolls around 550 students every year.
Residents will have to travel to Barre or Worcester for shopping and dining
There is very little in the way of shopping or dining in Oakham. The only restaurant is Agronomy Farm Vineyard, a local winery that offers local music and wine tastings with a view of the countryside. The closest shopping is in Barre, a small town just north of Oakham, and Rutland, another small town to the east. Both offer a handful of restaurants, cafes, antique shops and local grocers. For everything else, residents will have to head to Worcester, a mid-sized city with major chains, big box stores and plenty of restaurants and entertainment.
Getting around the rural heartland of Central Massachusetts
Oakham’s rural location means there's no public transportation, and residents will likely need a car to get around. It's 17 miles to Worcester, or about a 30-minute drive. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to get to Boston without any traffic. The nearest major medical center is UMass Memorial Health in Worcester.
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