Compare towns
Templeton vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Northbridge | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Townsend and Northbridge 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Northbridge 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 |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Northbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554Lowest 24% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Templeton and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Northbridge | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Northbridge High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.8Lowest |
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.