Compare towns
Spencer vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks 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
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
9,292 |
12,579Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Windsor Locks 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. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% 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±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Oakham 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.