Compare towns

Oakham vs Sprague vs Westhampton vs Spencer

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 highest household income ($102k).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).

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.

MeasureOakhamSpragueWesthamptonSpencer
People
Population
1,639
2,962
1,552Lowest
12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3
26% above U.S.
48.5±10.7Lowest
25% above U.S.
49.3±4.9Highest
27% above U.S.
48.9±6.8
26% above U.S.
Westhampton 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%
17.1%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
18%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Oakham and Westhampton 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%
19.9%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Spencer and Westhampton 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%
19.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.4Highest
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.
$92,850±$11k
15% above U.S.
$100,000±$7k
24% above U.S.
$80,533±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
Oakham and Westhampton 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.
$273,500±$17kLowest
18% below U.S.
$413,200±$24k
24% above U.S.
$382,000±$22k
15% above U.S.
Oakham and Westhampton 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.
$1,247±$144
12% below U.S.
$1,304±$229Highest
8% below U.S.
$1,078±$161Lowest
24% below U.S.
Westhampton and Sprague 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.
$4,668
50% above U.S.
$6,476Highest
108% above U.S.
$4,387
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1
U.S.: 51.1%
26.9%±12.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±53.5
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Spencer and Westhampton 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%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
63%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
Work from home
9.6%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Spencer and Westhampton 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 — #141 of 149 in CT — #261 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin Sprague School District Hampshire · Westhampton Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town None in town None in town Hampshire Regional High David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0Highest
9.9Lowest
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.