Compare towns
Oakham vs Mendon 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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Westhampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Mendon | Barre | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,113Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,552 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%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. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Westhampton 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Westhampton 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% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7kLowest 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. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above 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. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Westhampton and Mendon 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. |
$5,342 71% 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% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school 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.