Compare towns
Oakham vs Benson vs Barre
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 most homeowners (91.6%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Benson | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
784Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Benson and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Barre 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. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% 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 | $420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% 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 | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Benson 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. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 |
| School district | Quabbin | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.