Compare towns
Oakham vs Ayer vs Westhampton vs Spencer
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%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Oakham | Ayer | Westhampton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
8,645 |
1,552Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Westhampton 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Oakham and Ayer 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 |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Ayer and Oakham 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 |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Ayer and Westhampton 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 |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Ayer 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% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ayer Shirley School District | Hampshire · Westhampton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hampshire Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.0 |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.