Compare towns
Templeton vs Putnam vs Winchendon
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 most people working from home (16.9%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Putnam | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
9,292 |
10,440Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1 4% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Templeton and Winchendon 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winchendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,154±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Templeton and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,500±$12kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Templeton and Winchendon 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Putnam School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Putnam High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.