Compare towns
Temple vs Thornton vs Marlborough
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 expensive homes ($401k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% 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.
| Measure | Temple | Thornton | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
46±9.2Lowest 6% above NH |
| Thornton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough and Thornton 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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 5% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
| Temple and Thornton 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 |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523 22% below NH |
$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
$1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH |
| Thornton 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,362 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Marlborough 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% |
9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.