Compare towns
Dublin vs Temple vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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.
| Measure | Dublin | Temple | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688 |
1,363Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Temple and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Salem 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 | — | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Salem |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.