Compare towns
Temple vs Worcester vs Ripton 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 renters (17.8% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Worcester | Ripton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,363Highest |
831 |
508 |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
| Temple and Sharon 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% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Ripton 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Ripton 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.