What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).

Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

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

Measure	Temple	Atkinson
People
Population	1,363Lowest	7,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH	57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH
	Atkinson and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Temple and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	42.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%
	Atkinson 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±$15kLowest 5% below NH	$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kLowest about the NH average	$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 22% below NH	$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH
	Temple and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 5% above NH	$6,918Lowest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Atkinson and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 37% above NH	28 minLowest 6% above NH
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Atkinson 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	—	#32 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.