What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the most homeowners (85.3%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	8,252Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±5.1Highest about the MA average	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Templeton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Templeton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,154±$15kHighest about the MA average	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA
	Worcester and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA
	Worcester and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Lowest 24% below MA	$4,733Highest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Lowest MA: 10%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Templeton and Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Narragansett	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Narragansett Regional High	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.