Compare towns
Oakham vs Stratton vs Otis 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 most expensive homes ($420k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Stratton | Otis | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
532Lowest |
1,624 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Otis and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Oakham 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis and Spencer 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% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6k 35% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Stratton and Otis 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. |
$400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$396,700±$40k 19% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Stratton 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. |
$1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Otis and Stratton 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. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis 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 |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Farmington River Reg | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.