Compare towns
Oakham vs Cheshire vs Barre
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Cheshire | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
3,216 |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
| Cheshire 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Barre 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Cheshire 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 MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Cheshire 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 about the MA average |
$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| 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 25% below MA |
$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% 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 | $1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
— | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Oakham and Barre 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 |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Oakham 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 | — | #274 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Hoosac Valley Regional | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Hoosac Valley High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.