Compare towns
Oakham vs Whiting vs Westhampton 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).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Westhampton has the most people working from home (14.1%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Whiting | Westhampton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
532Lowest |
1,552 |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Westhampton 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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 26% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$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. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Westhampton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westhampton 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Hampshire · Westhampton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Lowest |
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.