What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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	Lincoln
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,461Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH	46.8±10.1Lowest 8% above NH
	Temple and Lincoln 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%	19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lincoln 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%	28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Temple and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,107±$15kHighest 5% below NH	$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH
	Temple and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average	$342,000±$38kLowest 15% below NH
	Temple and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 22% below NH	$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH
	Temple and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 5% above NH	$2,984Lowest 55% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lincoln 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%	6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	72%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 37% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±8.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Temple and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	Lin-Wood Public School (High)
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.