Compare towns
Barre vs Bow vs Townsend 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
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Barre | Bow | Townsend | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
8,335 |
9,100Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Bow School District | North Middlesex | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Bow High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.