Compare towns
Barre vs Ware vs Brooklyn 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).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Ware | Brooklyn | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
10,048Highest |
8,517 |
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. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Brooklyn 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham and Ware 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Brooklyn School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.