Compare towns
Templeton vs Thompson vs Townsend
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%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Thompson | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,252Lowest |
9,337Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Templeton and Townsend 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$12k 8% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$353 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,554 46% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Narragansett | Thompson School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Narragansett Regional High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
7.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.