Compare towns
Barre vs Suffield 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 the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Blackstone | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
15,702Highest |
9,255 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest 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. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Oakham 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Suffield 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. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Suffield 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% |
4.6% 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% |
86.7% 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. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% 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% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #207 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Suffield School District | Blackstone-Millville | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Suffield High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.9Lowest |
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.