What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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	Monroe
People
Population	1,363Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH	51±10.4Highest 18% above NH
	Monroe 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%	20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe 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%	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Temple and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,107±$15kHighest 5% below NH	$88,150±$7kLowest 11% below NH
	Temple and Monroe 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	$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 22% below NH	$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH
	Temple and Monroe 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	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	48%±39Highest NH: 48.2%
	Monroe 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%	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 37% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Monroe School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.