Compare towns
Templeton vs Chaplin vs Putnam 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 most kids (22.9% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Chaplin | Putnam | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,252 |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Templeton and Putnam 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Templeton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353 15% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.