Compare towns
Oakham vs Williamsburg 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 most expensive homes ($420k median).
Williamsburg has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Williamsburg | Windsor | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
2,694 |
1,065Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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% |
18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
60.6%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% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Windsor 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 |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Oakham and Williamsburg 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 |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
— | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$5,761Highest 4% below 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% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.2% 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 |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Windsor 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 | Williamsburg | — | 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.