What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	1,363Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Temple and Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell 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 U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pepperell 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%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S.
	Pepperell 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.	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell 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	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	North Middlesex
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.