Compare towns
Oakham vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Windsor Locks | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
12,579Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Windsor Locks 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer 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. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Oakham 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Windsor Locks School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.