Compare towns
Oakham vs Dalton 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%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dalton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
6,256 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA |
| Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| 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 33% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| 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% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Dalton 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Dalton 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Central Berkshire | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.