Compare towns
Spencer vs Suffield 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 the most renters (37% rent).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Suffield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
15,702Highest |
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. |
44.5±1.7Lowest 14% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Spencer 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Suffield 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 about the U.S. average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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 15% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Suffield 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. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% 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 | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Suffield School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.