Compare towns
Peterborough vs Middlesex 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 most renters (43.7% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
1,943 |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Peterborough and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Temple and Peterborough 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.