Compare towns
Peterborough vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Temple has the youngest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Wells | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408 |
11,713Highest |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Wells and Peterborough 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Peterborough 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% 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%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above 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±$31k 22% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Peterborough and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.