Compare towns

Gardner vs Woonsocket vs Templeton

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 the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Templeton has the highest household income ($101k).

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.

MeasureGardnerWoonsocketTempleton
People
Population
21,148
43,521Highest
8,252Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
40.3±5.1
4% above U.S.
Gardner and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±5.9
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%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Gardner 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$101,154±$15kHighest
25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$301,600±$20kLowest
9% below U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$358,500±$12kHighest
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,109±$51Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,207±$353Highest
15% 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.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,554Highest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.7%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
44.7%±26.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gardner and Woonsocket 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954
26 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Templeton and Gardner 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 #37 of 38 in RI #244 of 282 in MA
School district Gardner RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Narragansett
High school in town Gardner High Woonsocket High School Narragansett Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.5
15.2Highest
12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.