Compare towns
Temple vs Sturbridge 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 affordable homes ($401k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
9,960Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
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% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Peterborough 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 124% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 39% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
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.