Compare towns
Oakham vs Plainfield vs Spencer vs Otis
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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,314Lowest |
12,008Highest |
1,624 |
| 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% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% 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% |
2.9%±2.1 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below 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% |
63.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Otis 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest 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% |
89.7% 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. |
1974 6 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. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis and Plainfield 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 | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.