Compare towns
Gardner vs Templeton vs Woonsocket 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%).
Templeton has the most homeowners (85.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Templeton | Woonsocket | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148 |
8,252Lowest |
43,521Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.3±5.1 4% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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% |
22.9%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Templeton 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% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$101,154±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$358,500±$12k 8% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below 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. |
$1,207±$353Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Templeton and Woonsocket 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. |
$4,554Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #244 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Narragansett | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Narragansett Regional High | Woonsocket High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.2 |
15.2Highest |
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.