Compare towns
Spencer vs Ipswich 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).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Ipswich | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
13,930Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
47.2±3.5Lowest 18% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% 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 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Ipswich 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% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,598±$90Highest 9% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ipswich 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Ipswich | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Ipswich High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.