Compare towns
Oakham vs Tyringham 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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Tyringham has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Tyringham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639 |
494Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,632Highest 23% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school 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 |
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.