Compare towns
Oakham vs Mashpee vs Barre vs Otis
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Mashpee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Mashpee | Barre | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
15,384Highest |
5,572 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
| Mashpee 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 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Mashpee and Otis 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% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Mashpee 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 |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| 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±$20k 25% below MA |
$562,200±$29kHighest about the MA average |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Mashpee and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$3,762 37% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Mashpee 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 | — | #100 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Mashpee | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Mashpee Middle-High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.