Compare towns
Oakham vs Windsor vs Putnam 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 expensive homes ($420k median).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
1,065Lowest |
9,292 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4 15% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% 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% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Putnam 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. |
$115,563±$10kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Windsor 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 26% above U.S. |
$389,700±$32k 17% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Windsor 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. |
— | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Putnam 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. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs 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. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor 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 | — | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Putnam School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Putnam High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| 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.