Compare towns
Spencer vs Brookline vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Spencer | Brookline | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
531Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 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 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 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+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% 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 | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | Spencer-E Brookfield | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.