Compare towns
Temple vs Bethlehem vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Sharon has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Bethlehem | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363 |
2,537Highest |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
49.4±11.2Lowest 14% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sharon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±3 NH: 6% |
| Temple and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$113,125±$19kHighest 14% above NH |
| Sharon and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27k about the NH average |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
| Sharon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 5% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$8,274Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.