Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,639Lowest |
6,369Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Oakham and Barre 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Barre 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 4% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| 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 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| 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±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,039±$104 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 | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Barre 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | 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.