Compare towns
Oakham vs Stratton vs Spencer 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 homeowners (91.6%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Oakham | Stratton | Spencer | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
532Lowest |
12,008Highest |
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. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
26%±4.4Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% 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% |
5.2%±2.4 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. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
$400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% 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±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Oakham 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. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% 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% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Barre 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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 30% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Barre 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 | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | — | David Prouty High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
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.