Compare towns
Oakham vs Sutton vs Whately 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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Sutton | Whately | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
790Lowest |
1,499 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Whately 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% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Whately 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% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Whately 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Whately and Oakham 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. |
— | $977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% 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. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,027Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Sutton 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older 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. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Whately | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None 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.