Compare towns
Spencer vs Enosburgh vs Oakham vs Fairhaven
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 the most people working from home (15%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Enosburgh | Oakham | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
2,804 |
1,639Lowest |
15,903Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.5±3.4 25% 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% |
21%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Enosburgh 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% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Fairhaven 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. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79 21% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairhaven and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | — | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Quabbin | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.4 |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.