Compare towns
Barre vs Plainfield vs Oakham vs Blackstone
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Oakham | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
616Lowest |
1,639 |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$94,191±$21k 9% 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Oakham and Blackstone 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 |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Plainfield and Blackstone 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Blackstone 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 | — | — | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 13.6Highest |
| 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.