Compare towns
Peterborough vs Bethlehem 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
Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Temple has the most homeowners (82.2%).
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 | Peterborough | Bethlehem | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
2,537 |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
| Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest 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 | $98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$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 | $1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
| Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$6,983 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.