Compare towns
Templeton vs Needham vs Gardner
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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
32,459Highest |
21,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Gardner and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353 31% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #244 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Needham | Gardner |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Needham High | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.