Compare towns
Spencer vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield 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).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
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. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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 |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% 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. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.