Compare towns
Templeton vs Quinebaug 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 most kids (22.9% under 18).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Quinebaug | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252 |
1,193Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Templeton and Gardner 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Templeton 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. |
$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Quinebaug 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±$12kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Templeton and Gardner 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. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,150 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug 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 | — | Gardner |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | — | 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.