Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Upton vs Hubbardston
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 most renters (24.2% rent).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Hubbardston has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Upton | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,639Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,371 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
46.8±9.1 17% above MA |
| Oakham and Hubbardston 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Hubbardston 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$123,500±$24k 19% above MA |
| Upton and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$371,600±$18kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$953±$206 46% below MA |
| Oakham and Barre 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,716 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hubbardston and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 minLowest 22% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Hubbardston 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.