Compare towns

Oakham vs Maynard 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 homeowners (91.6%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).

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.

MeasureOakhamMaynardBarre
People
Population
1,639Lowest
10,712Highest
5,572
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3Highest
23% above MA
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
43.8±8.5Lowest
9% above MA
Oakham and Maynard 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%
16.9%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Oakham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19%±5.6
MA: 17.9%
Oakham and Barre 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%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
31.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
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±$20kLowest
about the MA average
$124,067±$16kHighest
19% above MA
$107,727±$13k
4% above MA
Maynard 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
$527,400±$31kHighest
6% below MA
$394,300±$55kLowest
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
33% below MA
$1,800±$148Highest
about the MA average
$1,030±$713Lowest
42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,103Lowest
32% below MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
$5,163
14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±27.5
MA: 51.8%
Maynard 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%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
8.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
32% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
36 min
24% above MA
Work from home
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.9%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.2%±4.6
MA: 18.6%
Maynard 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 — #166 of 282 in MA #134 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin — Quabbin
High school in town None in town — Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.