Compare towns
Oakham vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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.
| Measure | Oakham | Worcester | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,639Lowest |
207,055Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Oakham and Spencer 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| 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 33% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Worcester 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
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.