Compare towns
Oakham vs Glover 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 highest household income ($102k).
Glover has the most affordable homes ($265k median).
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 | Glover | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,051Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.4±5.9Lowest 24% 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% |
22.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Glover 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Glover 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Glover 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 26% above U.S. |
$73,839±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$264,700±$34kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$973±$130Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer 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. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±64.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Glover 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 min 46% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Glover 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 | — | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school 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 |
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.