Compare towns
Barre vs Epping vs North Brookfield 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 highest household income ($108k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Epping | North Brookfield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
7,430Highest |
4,760 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and North Brookfield 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Oakham 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Epping 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 33% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Barre and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Epping and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Epping and Oakham 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and North Brookfield 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and North Brookfield 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #270 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Epping School District | North Brookfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Epping High School | North Brookfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.3 |
5.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.