What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Cornish
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH	54±8.3Highest 25% above NH
	Cornish 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 NH: 18.2%	14.4%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Cornish 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 NH: 20.1%	27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	40.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Temple and Cornish 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	$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH
	Temple and Cornish 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	$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH	$1,221±$227Highest 18% below NH
	Cornish 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	$5,796Lowest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Cornish 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%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.1%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	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Temple and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Cornish 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.