Compare towns
Peterborough vs Temple vs Ware
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).
Temple has the most homeowners (82.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Peterborough | Temple | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408 |
1,363Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$8kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 22% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below 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 |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Peterborough and Temple 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. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Peterborough 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.