Compare towns
Temple vs Mason 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
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Peterborough 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.
| Measure | Temple | Mason | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
1,451 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Peterborough and Mason 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 |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27k about the NH average |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% 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±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,395±$209 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Lowest 5% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 37% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Temple 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 | Mason 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 | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.