Compare towns
Oakham vs Jay vs Barre vs Otis
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Otis has the shortest commute (34 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 | Jay | Barre | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
471Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
| Jay and Otis 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis 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. |
— | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 min 46% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Otis 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.