Compare towns
Spencer vs Oakham vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering SpencerPaxton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% 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 | Oakham | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
1,639Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton 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% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest 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% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA |
| Charlton 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±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA |
| Charlton and Oakham 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±$81 33% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Oakham 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,617Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Charlton 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 | — | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Quabbin | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.