Compare towns
Templeton vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Middlesex | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252 |
1,943Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Templeton and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$12k 8% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 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 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gardner |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 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.