Compare towns
Temple vs Salem vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363 |
44,795Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%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% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% 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% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest 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.