Compare towns
Barre vs Dedham vs Dedham 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 the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Dedham | Dedham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Dedham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.