What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has the most renters (17.8% rent).

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Middlesex
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Temple and Middlesex 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%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middlesex and Temple 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%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex 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 17% above U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S.	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Temple and Middlesex 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.	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 124% above U.S.	$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Temple and Middlesex 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex 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	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.