Compare towns
Temple vs Ayer vs Deering
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k 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 | Temple | Ayer | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
8,645Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.8±5.7 25% above U.S. |
| Temple and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$101,250±$16k 25% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$309,900±$27kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,306±$116 8% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,223 100% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.