What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k median).

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Middleton
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,595Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH	43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average
	Temple and Middleton 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%	18.9%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Middleton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.9%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Middleton 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	Middleton 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	$101,696±$8kHighest about the NH average
	Middleton 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 about the NH average	$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH	$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average
	Middleton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 5% above NH	$5,504Lowest 17% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Middleton 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%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 37% above NH	39 minHighest 45% above NH
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Temple and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Middleton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.