Compare towns
Dunstable vs Oakham vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Spencer has the most renters (37% 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 | Dunstable | Oakham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408 |
1,639Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Dunstable and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 18% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable and Spencer 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Quabbin | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.