Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Oakham vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Bridgewater | Oakham | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Quabbin | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.