What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).

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	Bennington
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,588Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average
	Temple and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Temple and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6%
	Bennington 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 5% below NH	$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH
	Temple and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average	$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH	$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH
	Bennington and Temple 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	$5,944Lowest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bennington 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%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 37% above NH	37 minHighest 38% above NH
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Temple and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Contoocook Valley 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.