Compare towns
Gardner vs Worcester 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 affordable homes ($302k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Templeton has the most homeowners (85.3%).
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 | Worcester | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148 |
207,055Highest |
8,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
40.3±5.1 about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Templeton 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$101,154±$15kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Worcester and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,207±$353 31% below MA |
| Worcester 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 |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,554 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Gardner High | South High Community | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.6Highest |
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.