Compare towns
Templeton vs Needham vs Townsend
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 most affordable homes ($359k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Needham and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Townsend 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Townsend 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554Lowest 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Townsend 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #244 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Needham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Needham High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.