Compare towns
Templeton vs Bow vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Templeton has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Bow | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
8,335 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,154±$15k 25% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12k 8% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353 15% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Bow and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554 46% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Templeton 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Bow School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Bow High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.