What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Templeton	Thompson
People
Population	8,252Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Templeton and Thompson 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.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Templeton and Thompson 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.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Templeton and Thompson 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.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Templeton and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Narragansett	Thompson School District
High school in town	Narragansett Regional High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.