Compare towns
Oxford vs Townsend vs Templeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the oldest population (median age 42).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Oxford | Townsend | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Highest |
9,100 |
8,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Highest 5% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
| Oxford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Townsend and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10k about the MA average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$101,154±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Townsend and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,207±$353 31% below MA |
| Townsend and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 23% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,554Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Templeton and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | North Middlesex | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Oxford High | North Middlesex Regional | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.