Compare towns
Gardner vs Berlin vs Templeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Templeton has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Gardner | Berlin | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
3,378Lowest |
8,252 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$101,154±$15k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,207±$353 31% below MA |
| Berlin and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,554 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #273 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Berlin-Boylston | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.