Compare towns
Barre vs Worcester 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 highest household income ($108k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
207,055Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| 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 30% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| 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 42% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.