Compare towns
Barre vs Halifax vs Townsend 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 renters (24.2% rent).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Halifax | Townsend | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
847Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Townsend 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%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Townsend 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. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax and Townsend 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% 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% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Halifax School District | North Middlesex | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.