Compare towns
Barre vs Sheldon vs Blackstone 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Sheldon | Blackstone | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,267 |
9,255Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,191±$21k 17% 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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Blackstone 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Barre 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Blackstone-Millville | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.