Compare towns
Temple vs Peterborough vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the youngest population (median age 49.5).
Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Peterborough | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363 |
6,408Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Peterborough and Springfield 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% |
16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Peterborough and Springfield 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% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Peterborough 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 |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
| Springfield 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 about the NH average |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| 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±$523 22% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 5% above NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Temple and Peterborough 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% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Temple and Springfield 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.