Compare towns
Temple vs Lancaster vs Sharon
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 most affordable homes ($401k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363 |
8,606Highest |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2 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 | 14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$113,125±$19k 40% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38k 43% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,458±$1k 3% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None 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.