Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,639Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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 4% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Pepperell 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 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA |
| Pepperell and Oakham 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.