Compare towns
Spencer vs Windham vs Oakham vs Fairhaven
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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | Windham | Oakham | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
594Lowest |
1,639 |
15,903Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.5±3.4 25% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±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±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Fairhaven 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. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Oakham 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. |
— | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79 21% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairhaven 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | — | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | — | Quabbin | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | — | None in town | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.