Compare towns
Oakham vs Halifax vs Barre vs Westhampton
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 expensive homes ($420k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Halifax | Barre | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
847Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,552 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton and Halifax 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% 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. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
| 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% above U.S. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Westhampton 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 | Halifax School District | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.