Compare towns
Oakham vs Brookfield vs Spencer
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).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Brookfield | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,486Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Spencer 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% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Oakham 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 26% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Brookfield 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. |
$339,300±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer 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. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Brookfield 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 |
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.