What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Oxford has the most homeowners (82.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Spencer	Oxford
People
Population	12,008Lowest	13,385Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA
	Spencer and Oxford 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%	21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oxford and Spencer 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%	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	29.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oxford 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	$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA	$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA
	Spencer and Oxford 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	$1,177±$142Highest 33% below MA
	Oxford and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA	$4,622Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford 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%	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	28 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Oxford 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	#245 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Oxford
High school in town	David Prouty High	Oxford High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.