Compare towns
Sharon vs Upton vs Marlow vs Temple
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Temple has the most renters (17.8% rent).
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 | Upton | Marlow | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 442Lowest |
8,189Highest |
855 |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±8.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Marlow 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marlow and Upton 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% 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 | $8,274 165% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Marlow School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.