Compare towns
Spencer vs Rowley 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 people working from home (15%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Rowley | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
6,251 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Rowley and Oakham 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Rowley 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Rowley 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 |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Rowley 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Triton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.