Compare towns
Spencer vs Mendon vs Oakham vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 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 | Mendon | Oakham | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
6,325 |
1,639Lowest |
16,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
46±2.6 15% 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%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Easthampton 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% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Easthampton 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 23% below MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Mendon and Oakham 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 |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Mendon-Upton | Quabbin | Easthampton |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | None in town | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.