Compare towns
Oakham vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 49).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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 | Needham | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Oakham and Barre 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Needham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.