Compare towns
Oxford 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
Oxford has the oldest population (median age 42).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385 |
207,055Highest |
8,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Highest 5% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
40.3±5.1 about the MA average |
| Oxford and Templeton 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Oxford and Templeton 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$101,154±$15k about the MA average |
| Oxford and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kHighest 33% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Oxford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 33% 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 | $4,622 23% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,554Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Oxford High | South High Community | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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.