What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Temple	Adams
People
Population	1,363Lowest	8,074Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	47.3±3.3Lowest 22% above U.S.
	Temple and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Adams and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Adams and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,107±$15kHighest 17% above U.S.	$58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S.	$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S.	$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Temple and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 124% above U.S.	$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Adams and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#230 of 282 in MA
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.