Compare towns
Barnard vs Barre vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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 | Barnard | Barre | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Barre 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.