Compare towns

Oakham vs Brooklyn vs Westhampton 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 highest household income ($102k).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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.

MeasureOakhamBrooklynWesthamptonSpencer
People
Population
1,639
8,517
1,552Lowest
12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3
26% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
49.3±4.9Highest
27% above U.S.
48.9±6.8
26% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn 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
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn and Spencer 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.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$100,000±$7k
24% above U.S.
$80,533±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
Oakham and Westhampton 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.
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$413,200±$24k
24% above U.S.
$382,000±$22k
15% above U.S.
Oakham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,304±$229Highest
8% below U.S.
$1,078±$161Lowest
24% below U.S.
Westhampton and Oakham 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.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$6,476Highest
108% above U.S.
$4,387
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±53.5
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Spencer and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
63%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
Work from home
9.6%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Spencer and Westhampton 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 149 in CT — #261 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin Brooklyn School District Hampshire · Westhampton Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town None in town None in town Hampshire Regional High David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0Highest
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.