Compare towns
Oakham vs Needham 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%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
32,459Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Needham | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.