Compare towns
Oakham vs Springfield vs Barre vs Otis
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 most expensive homes ($420k median).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Springfield | Barre | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
154,749Highest |
5,572 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Barre 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 about the MA average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| 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 25% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| 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 33% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
| 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% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Springfield | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.