Compare towns
Sharon vs Dedham vs Temple
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering SharonPeterborough
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
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 | Sharon | Dedham | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Temple and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19k 40% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,900±$38k 43% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1k 3% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,983Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Temple 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.