Compare towns
Oakham vs Dover vs Barre vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Dover | Barre | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
2,308 |
5,572Highest |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
| Westhampton 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% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton 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% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
— | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton 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% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$6,476 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.