What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).

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	Strafford
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford 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%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford 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%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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 17% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford 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.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Strafford and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Temple and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Lowest 124% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Temple and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None 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.