Compare towns
Barre vs Exeter 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 affordable homes ($394k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
16,151Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Barre 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.