What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Durham
People
Population	1,363Lowest	4,262Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Temple and Durham 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%	19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Durham and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Temple and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Durham 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.	$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S.
	Durham 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±$27kHighest 21% above U.S.	$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523 17% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 124% above U.S.	$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Temple and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Temple 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	—	#14 of 133 in ME
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	RSU 05
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.