Compare towns
Temple vs Durham vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most homeowners (82.2%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Peterborough has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
10,681Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
| 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%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
| Durham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
| Peterborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Lowest 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,655 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.