Compare towns
Temple vs Salem vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most homeowners (82.2%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 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.
| Measure | Temple | Salem | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
44,795Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peterborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Peterborough 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±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 124% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Salem | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.