Compare towns

Templeton vs Williamsburg vs Gardner

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 kids (22.9% under 18).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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.

MeasureTempletonWilliamsburgGardner
People
Population
8,252
2,694Lowest
21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.3±5.1Lowest
about the MA average
50±2.4Highest
25% above MA
43.7±2.3
9% above MA
Kids under 18
22.9%±5.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±4
MA: 19.4%
18.3%±2.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Templeton and Williamsburg 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%
22.7%±3.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
Williamsburg 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%
MA: 47.3%
60.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
23.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Williamsburg and Gardner 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
$104,792±$21kHighest
about the MA average
$67,518±$8kLowest
35% below MA
Williamsburg 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
$403,100±$37kHighest
28% below MA
$301,600±$20kLowest
46% below MA
Williamsburg and Templeton 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
$1,420±$228Highest
19% below MA
$1,109±$51Lowest
37% below MA
Williamsburg 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
$5,761Highest
4% below MA
$4,150Lowest
31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.7%±26.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61%±28Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.7%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
Williamsburg and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.6%
MA: 10%
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
82.2%
MA: 62.5%
58.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1955
9 yrs older than MA
1954Lowest
10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% below MA
25 minLowest
13% below MA
31 minHighest
5% above MA
Work from home
16.9%±5.1
MA: 18.6%
26.5%±6.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg 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

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.