Compare towns
Temple vs Springfield vs Deering vs Peterborough
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 most people working from home (16.9%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Springfield | Deering | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,363 |
1,122Lowest |
1,938 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
48.8±5.7Lowest 13% above NH |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% 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% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Deering and Peterborough 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2 NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5% NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Highest 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 |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$101,250±$16kHighest about the NH average |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
| Deering and Springfield 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 |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
| Peterborough and Deering 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 |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,223 7% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 37% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5 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 | 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.