Compare towns
Pelham 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
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k 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 | Pelham | Peterborough | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
6,408 |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
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 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
$401,000±$27kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
$1,395±$209 6% below NH |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
| Pelham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$6,983Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #59 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Pelham School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.