Compare towns
Temple vs Castleton vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Temple | Castleton | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
4,453 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Peterborough 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,401±$8kHighest 22% 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 | $401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 124% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Peterborough 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.