Compare towns
Barre vs Sharon vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Sharon | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
1,577Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 33% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon 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 | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Sharon School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.