Oakham center
2 Coldbrook Road, Unit 1, Oakham, MA 01068
Living in Oakham, Massachusetts
Oakham is a small, largely rural town in Worcester County, first settled in 1749 as part of Rutland and incorporated on its own in 1762 under the name Oakhampton, later shortened to Oakham. The towns of Oakham, New Braintree, Spencer, and North Brookfield meet at a single common corner, and part of town lies within the Ware River Watershed, a source of water for the Quabbin Reservoir system.
Oakham at a glance
- $11.12Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $4,888Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 30-35 minDrive to Worcester
- WorcesterCounty
Oakham's zip code
Oakham uses the 01068 zip code.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Oakham center | 01068 | Around Coldbrook Road near Town Hall and the Fobes Memorial Library. |
Things to do in Oakham, MA
Start with Fobes Memorial Library and Coldbrook Springs site, then 1 more below.
Fobes Memorial Library
The town's public library, a fieldstone building built in 1907 using local stone.
Oakham, MA
Coldbrook Springs site
Once a resort village with a hotel, tavern, and medicinal spa, Coldbrook Springs was cleared when the area became part of the state's Ware River Watershed water-supply lands; the site is now state-owned land within the watershed.
Oakham, MA
Brooks Pond
A pond near the town's shared corner with New Braintree, Spencer, and North Brookfield.
Oakham, MA
A little history
Oakham was first settled in 1749 as part of Rutland and was incorporated as its own town, originally named Oakhampton, in 1762.
Coldbrook Springs, a village with a hotel, tavern, and medicinal spa, was cleared and absorbed into the state's Ware River Watershed water-supply lands.
The Fobes Memorial Library, a fieldstone building constructed of local stone, was built in 1907.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Oakham
Oakham's open land includes part of the state-owned Ware River Watershed and Brooks Pond near the town's northeast corner.
- Ware River Watershed landsState-owned water-supply land in Oakham, including the former Coldbrook Springs site, generally open for passive recreation.
- Brooks PondA pond near the shared corner of Oakham, New Braintree, Spencer, and North Brookfield.
Walkability and getting around Oakham
Oakham center has a small cluster of municipal buildings along Coldbrook Road, but the town has no commercial walkable district and is built around driving.
Drive times
- Worcester, about 18 miles30-35 min
- Worcester Regional Airport, about 16 miles25-30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Oakham has no fixed-route public bus or passenger rail service.
Oakham property taxes
Oakham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $11.12 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,112 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $4,888, on an average assessed value of $439,560.
Oakham's FY2026 tax rates
$11.12per $1,000, residential
- Residential$11.12 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$439,560
- Average single-family tax bill$4,888
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $12.72 |
| FY2023 | $11.57 |
| FY2024 | $11.08 |
| FY2025 | $11.55 |
| FY2026 | $11.12 |
Look up a Oakham property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 508-882-5549 ext. 05
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Oakham
What we check on a Oakham purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, wells & septic, water-supply watershed.
First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Worcester County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansCheck the flood zone first
Flood zones are set address by address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for OakhamSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Oakham Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-882-5218 to schedule.
Oakham Fire Department pageMassachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing
Sellers need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a sale can close. The Oakham Fire Department handles these inspections.
No town water or sewer system
Oakham has no townwide public water or sewer system, so buyers should plan for well and septic inspections, including a Title 5 septic inspection before closing. The town's Board of Health maintains a list of approved private trash and septic haulers, since Oakham does not run its own trash collection or transfer station.
Part of town lies in the Ware River Watershed
A portion of Oakham, including the former Coldbrook Springs site, is state-owned land within the Ware River Watershed, a water-supply source for the Quabbin Reservoir system.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Oakham?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Oakham address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Oakham: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Oakham: National Grid for power.
- ElectricNational Grid
- Natural gasNo natural gas service confirmed; homes typically use propane, oil, or electric heat
- WaterMostly private wells
- Sewer or septicNo town sewer system; properties rely on private septic systems
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
Town Hall offices and contacts
Oakham Town Hall is at 2 Coldbrook Road, Unit 1, Oakham, MA 01068. Main line: 508-882-5549.
- Town HallMain line and website508-882-5549
- Board of SelectmenTown governance.508-882-5549 ext. 1
- Board of AssessorsProperty values and assessments.508-882-5549 ext. 05
- Treasurer/CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.508-882-5549 ext. 03
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.508-882-5549 ext. 04
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention and emergency response; issues smoke and CO certificates for home sales.508-882-5218
- Board of HealthSeptic, well, and food permitting; publishes a list of approved private trash and septic haulers.508-882-4069
- Highway DepartmentRoads and highway maintenance.508-882-5556
- Fobes Memorial LibraryThe town's public library.
- Quabbin Regional School DistrictRegional school district serving Oakham.
Oakham, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Oakham, MA?
Oakham's FY2026 residential tax rate is $11.12 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Oakham?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,448 a year at $11.12 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Oakham have a split tax rate?
No. Oakham uses a single rate of $11.12 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Oakham?
The average single-family tax bill in Oakham was $4,888 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $439,560.
What ZIP code does Oakham use?
Oakham uses ZIP code 01068.
Does Oakham have curbside trash pickup or a transfer station?
Oakham does not appear to operate its own municipal trash collection or transfer station; the town's Board of Health publishes a list of approved private trash and septic haulers that residents contract with individually.
Who supplies electricity in Oakham?
National Grid is the electric utility serving Oakham.
How far is Oakham from Worcester?
Oakham is roughly 18 miles from Worcester, about a 30-35 minute drive.
What school district serves Oakham?
Oakham is part of the Quabbin Regional School District.
Is there public transit in Oakham?
No. Oakham has no fixed-route bus or passenger rail service.
Towns near Oakham
Neighbors of Oakham, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Oakham, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Oakham official website: oakham-ma.gov
- Contact Us - Oakham, MA: oakham-ma.gov
- Directory - Oakham, MA: oakham-ma.gov
- 2023 Approved Septic & Trash Haulers, Septic Installers and Food Permits - Oakham Board of Health: oakham-ma.gov
- MassDOT Utility Contacts by District/Municipality: hwy.massdot.state.ma.us
- Town_Center, Oakham MA.jpg, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.