Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,639Lowest |
6,251Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Oakham 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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 MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Rowley 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Triton |
| 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 History | 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.