Compare towns
Oakham vs Spencer vs Thompson
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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
12,008Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Lowest 26% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Thompson 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±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below 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. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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 | $4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Spencer-E Brookfield | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.