What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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	Brighton
People
Population	1,363Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Temple and Brighton 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%	18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brighton 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%	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brighton 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.	$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S.	$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S.	$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S.
	Temple and Brighton 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.	$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brighton 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%	22%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Temple and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Brighton School District
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.