Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Panton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
1,639 |
690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.7±3.8Lowest 10% 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% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Panton and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Oakham 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 33% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$86,667±$10kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$438,000±$40kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Panton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,410±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,695Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Panton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.