Compare towns

Temple vs Thornton 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

Temple has the most renters (17.8% rent).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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.

MeasureTempleThorntonSharon
People
Population
1,363
2,799Highest
442Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
—
Median age
49.5±7.3
14% above NH
51.1±3.4Highest
18% above NH
49.4±11.2Lowest
14% above NH
Thornton 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
NH: 18.2%
13.9%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±8.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
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
NH: 20.1%
19%±4.9
NH: 20.1%
31.4%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
46.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.7%±1.1
NH: 6%
4.8%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
1.6%±3Lowest
NH: 6%
Thornton 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±$15k
5% below NH
$90,022±$17kLowest
9% 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
$351,900±$20kLowest
13% below NH
$475,900±$38kHighest
18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$523Lowest
22% below NH
$1,270±$428
15% below NH
$1,458±$1kHighest
about the NH average
Sharon and Thornton 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
$5,032Lowest
25% below NH
$8,274Highest
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.2%±54.1
NH: 48.2%
57.7%±24.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
28.6%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Thornton 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
NH: 7.2%
9.2%
NH: 7.2%
6.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
88.3%
NH: 72.8%
93.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
37% above NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
32 min
20% above NH
Work from home
16.9%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
29.8%±9.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.2%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Thornton 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 — #18 of 120 in NH —
School district Contoocook Valley School District Thornton School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.