Compare towns
Temple vs Mapleton vs Marlow vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Mapleton | Marlow | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,363 |
1,884 |
855Lowest |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Marlow 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 17% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Marlow 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±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 124% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Temple and Peterborough 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Marlow School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.