Compare towns
Oakham vs Mendon vs Barre 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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Mendon | Barre | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,113Lowest |
5,572 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Spencer 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Spencer 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% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre 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. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre 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. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | #134 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Quabbin | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.