Compare towns
Sharon vs Lee 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).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
5,719Highest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2Lowest 27% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Lee and Temple 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above 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. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lee | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| 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.