Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Ripton vs Blackstone
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 affordable homes ($394k median).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Oakham | Ripton | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,639 |
508Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Oakham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Blackstone 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. |
— | $1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Oakham 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. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% 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% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Ripton 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Ripton 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 | — | — | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 13.6Highest |
| 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.