Compare towns
Oakham vs Stow vs Windsor vs Barre
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 oldest population (median age 49).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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 | Stow | Windsor | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
7,165Highest |
1,065Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
| Oakham and Windsor 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
— | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 minLowest 23% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Nashoba | — | Quabbin |
| High school 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 |
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.