What stands out worked out from the figures below

Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

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	Thompson
People
Population	1,363Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Thompson and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Temple and Thompson 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%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thompson 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±$15kHighest 17% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Temple and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Temple and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,983Highest 124% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Temple and Thompson 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	—	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	None in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.9
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.