Compare towns
Templeton vs Douglas vs Winchendon
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Winchendon has the most affordable homes ($324k 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 | Douglas | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
9,207 |
10,440Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1 about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Templeton 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% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Winchendon 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% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Winchendon and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Winchendon 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 about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Douglas and Winchendon 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 |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$3,780Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Douglas | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Douglas High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.