Compare towns
Oakham vs Otis vs Reading 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%).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Otis | Reading | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,624Lowest |
25,612Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis 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% MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$20k about the MA average |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Reading and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Otis 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% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Otis 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 | — | — | #50 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg | Reading | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.