Compare towns

Templeton vs Unity 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 people working from home (16.9%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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.

MeasureTempletonUnityGardner
People
Population
8,252
1,375Lowest
21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.3±5.1Lowest
4% above U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.9%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±4.1Lowest
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%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%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%±0.7Lowest
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±$15kHighest
25% above U.S.
$87,500±$16k
8% above U.S.
$67,518±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
Templeton and Unity 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.
$276,100±$29kLowest
17% below U.S.
$301,600±$20k
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$353
15% below U.S.
$1,625±$804Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,109±$51Lowest
22% below U.S.
Unity 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.
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
$4,150Lowest
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.7%±26.1
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±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%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Templeton and Gardner 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 Unity School District Gardner
High school in town Narragansett Regional High None in town 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.