Compare towns
Oakham vs Lawrence vs Westhampton 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 expensive homes ($420k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Westhampton has the most people working from home (14.1%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Lawrence | Westhampton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
88,736Highest |
1,552Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% 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 |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Oakham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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 MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Westhampton and Barre 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 | — | #278 of 282 in MA | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lawrence | Hampshire · Westhampton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Hampshire Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.