Compare towns
Spencer vs Proctor vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Proctor | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
1,794 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Oakham 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 about the U.S. average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,032Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Oakham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.