Compare towns
Gardner vs Castleton vs Templeton vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Templeton has the highest household income ($101k).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Castleton | Templeton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
4,453Lowest |
8,252 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.3±5.1 4% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Templeton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$101,154±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Templeton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$358,500±$12k 8% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,207±$353Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Templeton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,554Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Templeton 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | #244 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Narragansett | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | Narragansett Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.2 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.