Compare towns
Spencer vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
32,459Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #261 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Needham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.