Compare towns
Temple vs Mendon 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 youngest population (median age 49.5).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Mendon | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363 |
1,113Lowest |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peterborough and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon 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±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$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±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough and Mendon 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. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%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. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school 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 | 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.