What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Templeton	Leicester
People
Population	8,252Lowest	11,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average	42.4±3.5Highest 6% above MA
	Leicester 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%	20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Templeton and Leicester 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%	18.9%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Leicester and Templeton 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%	31%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Leicester and Templeton 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	$105,173±$9kHighest about the MA average
	Leicester and Templeton 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	$413,100±$23kHighest 27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA	$1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA
	Leicester and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Highest 24% below MA	$4,452Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Highest MA: 51.8%	29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Templeton and Leicester 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%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Templeton and Leicester 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	#222 of 282 in MA
School district	Narragansett	Leicester
High school in town	Narragansett Regional High	Leicester High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.