Compare towns
Temple vs Ware vs Springfield 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 people working from home (16.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Ware | Springfield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,363 |
6,369Highest |
1,122 |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2 27% 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Sharon 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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 17% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Springfield 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. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Temple 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. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Springfield 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.