Compare towns
Temple vs Salem 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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
44,795Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest 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% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Deering and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$101,250±$16kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Deering 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 21% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$309,900±$27kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,306±$116 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,223 100% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Salem | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.