Compare towns
Nelson vs Peterborough vs Temple
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Nelson | Peterborough | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
6,408Highest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH |
| Nelson and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$401,000±$27k about the NH average |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
| Peterborough and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$6,983 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #59 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.