Compare towns
Oakham vs Putnam vs Otis 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 expensive homes ($420k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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.
| Measure | Oakham | Putnam | Otis | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
9,292Highest |
1,624Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Otis 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Otis 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Putnam School District | Farmington River Reg | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 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.