What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dorset 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	Dorset
People
Population	1,363Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Temple and Dorset 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%	24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dorset and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dorset 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 17% above U.S.	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Dorset 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±$27kLowest 21% above U.S.	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average
	Dorset and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Lowest 124% above U.S.	$7,489Highest 140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dorset 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%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dorset and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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.