Compare towns

Templeton vs Ware vs Townsend vs Acushnet

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Acushnet has the oldest population (median age 46).

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.

MeasureTempletonWareTownsendAcushnet
People
Population
8,252
6,369Lowest
9,100
10,624Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%
MA: +7.4%
+2.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.3±5.1
about the MA average
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
40.9±3.3
about the MA average
46±2.8Highest
15% above MA
Acushnet and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±5.9
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2
MA: 19.4%
20.3%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
23.9%±3.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Acushnet and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.9%
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
35.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
26.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Townsend and Acushnet 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
about the MA average
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$121,528±$23kHighest
17% above MA
$89,503±$9k
14% below MA
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
36% below MA
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$433,200±$22k
23% below MA
$436,400±$34kHighest
22% below MA
Acushnet and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$353
31% below MA
$1,039±$104Lowest
41% below MA
$1,469±$313Highest
17% below MA
$1,170±$354
34% below MA
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
24% below MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$4,647
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.7%±26.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
65.4%±15.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Acushnet and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.6%
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82%
MA: 62.5%
85.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% below MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
28 min
4% below MA
Work from home
16.9%±5.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8
MA: 18.6%
10.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Templeton and Ware 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 #267 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA #118 of 282 in MA
School district Narragansett — North Middlesex Acushnet
High school in town Narragansett Regional High — North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
—
13.1Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.