Compare towns
Barre vs Conway vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Conway | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
1,755 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$395,900±$25k 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| Oakham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Conway and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$5,797Highest 3% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Barre 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 MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Conway | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.