Compare towns
Oakham vs Wilbraham 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 homeowners (91.6%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Wilbraham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
14,572Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham 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 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Wilbraham 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% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Wilbraham 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±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Oakham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,175±$241Highest 33% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Wilbraham 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% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham 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 MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Wilbraham 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Hampden-Wilbraham | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.