Compare towns
Barre vs Marblehead vs Oakham vs Townsend
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 renters (24.2% rent).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Marblehead | Oakham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
20,413Highest |
1,639Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Marblehead 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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 MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 4% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Marblehead and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Marblehead | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Marblehead High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.