Compare towns
Oakham vs Springfield vs Windsor 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 most expensive homes ($420k median).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Springfield | Windsor | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
154,749Highest |
1,065Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44.8±6.4 12% 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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 about the MA average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Windsor 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 25% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
— | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Oakham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103 32% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,867 35% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Springfield | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | — | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.