Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Ogunquit vs Sheffield
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 youngest population (median age 43.8).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Oakham | Ogunquit | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
1,639 |
1,379Lowest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Ogunquit 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. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Sheffield 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | — | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | — | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.