Compare towns
Sharon vs Hardwick 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 highest household income ($113k).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Hardwick | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Temple 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Sharon 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.