Compare towns

Oakham vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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.

MeasureOakhamWindsorSpencer
People
Population
1,639
1,065Lowest
12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
MA: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3Highest
23% above MA
44.8±6.4Lowest
12% 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%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.8%±5.1Lowest
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%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
18.6%±4.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26%±4.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
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%
MA: 47.3%
41.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
29.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1.7Lowest
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
$115,563±$10kHighest
11% above MA
$80,533±$11kLowest
23% below MA
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
25% below MA
$389,700±$32k
31% below MA
$382,000±$22kLowest
32% below MA
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
33% below MA
—
$1,078±$161Lowest
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
$4,103
32% below MA
$3,867Lowest
35% below MA
$4,387Highest
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±10.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Spencer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
11%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
MA: 62.5%
96.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
63%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
32% above MA
37 min
27% above MA
34 minLowest
18% above MA
Work from home
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
21.2%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
15%±7.3
MA: 18.6%
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 — — #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.