Compare towns
Oakham vs Highgate vs Westhampton 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).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Highgate | Westhampton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
3,528 |
1,552Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Westhampton and Oakham 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Westhampton 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% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Oakham 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. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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. |
$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Westhampton and Oakham 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. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Westhampton 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Hampshire · Westhampton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Hampshire Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.0Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.