Compare towns
Oakham vs Peru 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 highest household income ($102k).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | Peru | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
630Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA |
| Peru 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest 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±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Oakham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
— | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Oakham and Spencer 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 |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Peru 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 | — | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.