Compare towns
Temple vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Salisbury | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363 |
9,281Highest |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Temple 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% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| 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±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38k 43% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,458±$1k 3% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 124% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Triton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.