Compare towns
Oakham vs Dorset 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 oldest population (median age 49).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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 | Dorset | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
2,092 |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre 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±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Barre 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. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Oakham 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. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.