Compare towns
Barre vs Newfields vs Oakham vs Townsend
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).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Newfields | Oakham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,023 |
1,639Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham and Barre 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Townsend 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 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 | Newfields School District | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| 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.