Compare towns
Oakham vs Ogunquit vs Sheffield 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Sheffield | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,379Lowest |
3,330 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.2±8Lowest 24% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31k 14% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32k 23% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Sheffield 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,520Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Sheffield 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #250 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Southern Berkshire | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mt Everett Regional | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| 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.