What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Wales has the most people working from home (22.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Temple	Wales
People
Population	824Lowest	1,924Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	34±14Lowest 24% below ME	35.1±4.2Highest 22% below ME
	Wales and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1%	30.2%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Temple and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4%	11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Temple and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	15.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wales and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,087±$2kLowest 25% below ME	$77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$210,200±$79kLowest 29% below ME	$250,400±$28kHighest 16% below ME
	Wales and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME	$1,154±$64Lowest about the ME average
	Temple and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,367Lowest 22% below ME	$2,578Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.3%±70.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Wales and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	25.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	91.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 37% above ME	28 minLowest 14% above ME
Work from home	7.5%±8.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wales and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 04
High school in town	—	Oak Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.