Compare towns
Oakham vs Spencer vs Suffield 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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Spencer | Suffield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
12,008 |
15,702Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%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. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 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% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Spencer 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. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Barre 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. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Suffield 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. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Spencer-E Brookfield | Suffield School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Suffield High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
10.9 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.