Compare towns

Oakham vs Panton 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 homeowners (91.6%).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).

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.

MeasureOakhamPantonBarreWesthampton
People
Population
1,639
690Lowest
5,572Highest
1,552
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3
26% above U.S.
42.7±3.8Lowest
10% above U.S.
43.8±8.5
13% above U.S.
49.3±4.9Highest
27% above U.S.
Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Panton and Oakham 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%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±5.6
U.S.: 17.2%
25.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westhampton and Oakham 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%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.3Lowest
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.
$86,667±$10kLowest
7% above U.S.
$107,727±$13kHighest
33% above U.S.
$100,000±$7k
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±$20k
26% above U.S.
$438,000±$40kHighest
32% above U.S.
$394,300±$55kLowest
19% above U.S.
$413,200±$24k
24% above U.S.
Panton and Oakham 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.
$1,410±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,030±$713Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,304±$229
8% below U.S.
Panton and Westhampton 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.
$6,695Highest
115% above U.S.
$5,163
66% above U.S.
$6,476
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61%±39Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±27.5
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±53.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Panton and Barre 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
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.
1974
6 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.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 min
37% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
9.6%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Panton 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.