Compare towns
Oakham vs Townsend vs Whately 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 most homeowners (91.6%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Townsend | Whately | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
9,100Highest |
1,499Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Whately 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Townsend and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Townsend and Whately 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 |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
| Townsend and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,027 16% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Middlesex | Whately | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| 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.