Compare towns
Barnet vs Oakham vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Barnet | Oakham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,639 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Quabbin | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.