Compare towns
Oakham vs Castleton vs New Braintree 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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
New Braintree has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Castleton | New Braintree | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
4,453 |
973Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±4.6 23% 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| New Braintree and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and New Braintree 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%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% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$99,500±$8k 23% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and New Braintree 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$408,800±$27k 23% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and New Braintree 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. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,484±$316Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| New Braintree and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,508Highest 77% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±51.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and New Braintree 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Oakham 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quabbin | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.