What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has the most renters (17.8% rent).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,609Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH	51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH
	Salisbury 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%	20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Salisbury 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%	24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	37.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Salisbury 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	$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH
	Salisbury 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±$27kHighest about the NH average	$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH
	Temple and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH	$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH
	Salisbury and Temple 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	$5,859Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Temple and Salisbury 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%	7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 3 yrs newer than NH	1982 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 37% above NH	32 minLowest 20% above NH
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salisbury and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.