Compare towns
Templeton vs Ashburnham vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Templeton has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
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 | Templeton | Ashburnham | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252 |
6,415Lowest |
11,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
42.4±3.5Highest 6% above MA |
| Leicester and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.9%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Leicester and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Leicester and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,154±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$105,173±$9k about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$413,100±$23kHighest 27% below MA |
| Leicester and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,487±$258 16% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554 24% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Templeton and Ashburnham 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 | #244 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #222 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Ashburnham-Westminster | Leicester |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | None in town | Leicester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.