Compare towns
Oakham vs Proctor vs Sheldon 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 oldest population (median age 49).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267 |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% 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. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre 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. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Oakham 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. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.