Compare towns
Halifax 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
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Halifax | Oakham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748 |
1,639Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% 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 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Halifax and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Halifax and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | 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.