Compare towns
Spencer vs Heath vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Heath | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
765Lowest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Heath and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest 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+ | 26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Spencer 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 MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 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 | $80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
| Oakham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% 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 | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 33% 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 | $4,387 27% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 18% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 |
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.