Compare towns
Barre vs Glocester vs Oakham vs Blackstone
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Glocester | Oakham | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
10,221Highest |
1,639Lowest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Oakham 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Glocester 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% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester 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% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Glocester 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. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Glocester 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. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Blackstone 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. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Blackstone 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. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Glocester 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | — | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ponaganset High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.