Compare towns
Sharon vs Needham 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 homeowners (93.1%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 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%±8.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Sharon 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19k 40% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,900±$38k 43% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1k 3% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Needham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,274 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,983Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school 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.