Compare towns
Oakham vs Putney vs Spencer vs Barre
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 homeowners (91.6%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Putney | Spencer | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
2,622 |
12,008Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Barre 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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Barre 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
| 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% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #261 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Spencer-E Brookfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.