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Templeton First Church of Christ, Templeton MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Templeton

Templeton spent less per resident in 2022 than 85% of similar towns

Templeton’s town government spent $9.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,168 per resident. Water and other utilities ($10.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$9.5M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,168
In 2022: $1,168, less than 85% of 48 similar towns
Long-term debt
$24.4M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
59
full-time · 51 part-time · March payroll $456,542
Typical tax bill
$4,554
1.27% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Templeton is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$1,168 per resident in 2022: less than 85% of them

Templeton’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,168 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 48 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,369, and the middle half spent $1,214–$1,619. Templeton spent less than 85% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,214–$1,619Median $1,369Templeton

Includes sewer and trash ($1.3 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
48

Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Templeton itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,168 per resident a year, or $3.20 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 15%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 42%Utility sales 34%From the state 12%Fees & charges 6%From the federal government 4%Interest, fines & other 1%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $1.4 million; interest on debt $812,000; payments to other governments $7.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $29.6 million.
About “Other”.34% of Templeton’s day-to-day spending ($3.2 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Over the years

No trend yet

Templeton reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,554 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.27% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Massachusetts$5,992
Templeton$4,554
Gardner$4,150
Phillipston$3,914
Winchendon$3,780
Royalston$3,196
$4,554
typical bill a year
1.27%
effective rate
$358,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Templeton’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Templeton’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Templeton →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Templeton

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See templeton1.org for Templeton’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Templeton yet.templeton1.org ↗
Agendas

Templeton’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on templeton1.org ↗.

Who works for Templeton

One full-time town employee for every 138 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (8,134).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police15 + 10 pt
Water & other utilities15 + 1 pt
Administration & buildings8 + 5 pt
Health & welfare3 + 15 pt
Roads & transportation10 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash5 + 6 pt
Parks & libraries2 + 4 pt
Fire1 + 1 pt
Housing & development0 + 1 pt
Other0 + 7 pt
59
full-time
51
part-time
$456,542
payroll for March 2022
$5.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$78,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
10
sworn police officers
1
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Templeton had 7.3 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 27 of the 48 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 7.1: Templeton had more than 52% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Narragansett School District

Templeton’s K–12 school district, shared with Phillipston. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Templeton →
$18,187
per pupil · MA $26,530
1,453
students
$2.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $18,187 per pupil, $10,486 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 40%State 54%Federal 6%

Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Templeton voted in 2024

Official results for Templeton’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President4,593 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican56.2%2,583 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat41.0%1,883 votes

Others: 2.8% (127 votes).

Most votes in Templeton: Donald J Trump

Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
73%

of Templeton’s 6,321 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate4,544 votes
John DeatonRepublican60.6%
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat39.3%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Templeton: John Deaton

Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 2nd District366,328 votes
James P Mc GovernDemocrat68.6%
Cornelius Shea31.1%
Others0.2%

Most votes in the district: James P Mc Govern

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Templeton, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Templeton56.2%41.0%2.8%4,593
Worcester County43.7%53.6%2.7%420,841
Massachusetts36.0%61.2%2.8%3,473,668
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Templeton

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Templeton.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Templeton compares with the towns next door

Templeton spent $1,168 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,841 to $3,631. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Phillipston$1,841$3,914
Gardner$3,263 runs schools$4,150
Winchendon$3,631 runs schools$3,780
Royalstonestimate$3,196
Templeton$1,168$4,554

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Templeton’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Templeton’s government

How much does Templeton spend per resident?

About $1,168 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,168 was less than 85% of 48 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Templeton?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,554 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.27% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see templeton1.org.

Who runs Templeton’s government?

See templeton1.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Templeton yet.

How did Templeton vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 56.2%, Kamala D Harris 41.0% (4,593 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Templeton?

59 full-time and 51 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $456,542 (about $5.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Templeton in the state legislature?

State Senate District Worcester and Hampshire (Peter Durant) and State House District 2nd Worcester (Jon Zlotnik). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Templeton’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →