Compare towns
Sharon vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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±$19k 40% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1k 3% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,983Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | 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.