What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Plainfield
People
Population	1,363Highest	1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Temple and Plainfield 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%	16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield 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%	21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield 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%	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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±$15kHighest 17% above U.S.	$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Temple and Plainfield 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.	$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S.
	Temple and Plainfield 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.	$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Temple and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	—
High school 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.