Compare towns
Oakham vs Fall River vs Everett 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%).
Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Fall River | Everett | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
94,082Highest |
50,045 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below 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% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 about the MA average |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Oakham and Everett 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 |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Everett 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 | — | #262 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Everett High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.