Compare towns
Temple vs Gorham 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%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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 | Gorham | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
2,682 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
| Gorham and Peterborough 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% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average |
| 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 about the NH average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
| 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 22% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
| 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 5% above NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham 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% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.