Compare towns
Oakham vs Acton vs Barre vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
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 | Oakham | Acton | Barre | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
24,155Highest |
5,572 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Acton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Acton-Boxborough | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.