Compare towns
Barre vs Wakefield vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Wakefield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
27,793Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Wakefield 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 4% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Wakefield 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 30% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield 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 MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.