Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Upton vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,639Lowest |
8,189 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Oakham and Upton 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 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% MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest 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% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Ware 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±$20k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Oakham and Ware 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 |
$4,237 29% 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.