Compare towns
Oakham vs Otis vs Unity vs Barre
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Otis | Unity | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,624 |
1,375Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
51±3.2 31% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest 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. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis 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. |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Unity 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% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis 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 | — | — | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg | Unity School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.