Compare towns
Oakham vs Barre vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Barre | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
8,412 |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rutland and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
$5,657Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rutland and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.

