Compare towns
Oakham vs Plympton 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 oldest population (median age 49).
Plympton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Plympton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
2,935 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
46.4±4.2Lowest 16% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| 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%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Oakham 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Plympton 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% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Plympton 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 25% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
$1,078±$161 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 | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Plympton 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 MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton 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 | — | #110 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Plympton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.