Compare towns
Oakham vs Exeter 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 homeowners (91.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
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 | Exeter | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
16,151Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% 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%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Oakham 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Spencer 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.