Compare towns
Temple vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
3,216 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above 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%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Peterborough 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% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough and Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% 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 |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% 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 |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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.