Compare towns
Oakham vs Westhampton vs Whitingham 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 highest household income ($102k).
Westhampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Westhampton | Whitingham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,552 |
1,368Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Westhampton 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% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Oakham 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% |
25.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Westhampton 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. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Spencer 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs 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. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
38 min 44% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Westhampton 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 | Hampshire · Westhampton | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | Twin Valley Middle High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
7.8Lowest |
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.