Compare towns

Oakham vs Woonsocket vs Westhampton 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).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).

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.

MeasureOakhamWoonsocketWesthamptonSpencer
People
Population
1,639
43,521Highest
1,552Lowest
12,008
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3
26% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
49.3±4.9Highest
27% 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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Spencer and Westhampton 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%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Spencer and Woonsocket 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$100,000±$7k
24% above 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.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$413,200±$24k
24% above 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.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,304±$229Highest
8% below U.S.
$1,078±$161Lowest
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
$4,103
32% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$6,476Highest
108% above U.S.
$4,387
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±53.5
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Spencer and Woonsocket 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
63%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
46% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
Work from home
9.6%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±4
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 — #37 of 38 in RI — #261 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Hampshire · Westhampton Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School Hampshire Regional High David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
10.0
9.9Lowest
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.