Compare towns
Peterborough vs Canton vs Temple
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Canton | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408 |
24,748Highest |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.