Compare towns
Barre vs Mashpee vs Oakham
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 youngest population (median age 43.8).
Mashpee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Mashpee | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
15,384Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Mashpee 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 4% above MA |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$562,200±$29kHighest about the MA average |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mashpee 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 MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mashpee and Barre 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Mashpee | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Mashpee Middle-High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.