Compare towns
Spencer vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Ware | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
10,048 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Ware 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 23% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 32% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
| 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 39% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
| 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 27% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.