Compare towns
Oakham vs Douglas vs Upton 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%).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Douglas | Upton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
9,207 |
8,189 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Oakham 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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±$20k about the MA average |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Upton and Douglas 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 |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Douglas 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% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.