Compare towns
Oakham vs Gorham vs Spencer vs Barre
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%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Spencer | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
18,300Highest |
12,008 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Barre 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #261 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Gorham Public Schools | Spencer-E Brookfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | David Prouty High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.