Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Thompson
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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,639Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest 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% |
2.9%±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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre 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. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.