Compare towns
Barre vs Oakham vs Ware vs North Brookfield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,639Lowest |
10,048Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| Oakham and North Brookfield 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and North Brookfield 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% 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±$713 42% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and North Brookfield 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield and Ware 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 | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Ware | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.1 |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.