Compare towns
Oakham vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($102k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,314Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Spencer 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. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Plainfield 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. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — | #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 |
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.