Compare towns
Temple vs Mason vs Deering
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 shortest commute (37 min average).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
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 | Mason | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
1,451 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
48.8±5.7 13% above NH |
| Temple and Deering 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Mason 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 5% below NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$101,250±$16k about the NH average |
| Mason and Deering 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 |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
| Temple and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 5% above NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,223Lowest 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minLowest 37% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
40 min 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Mason School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.