Compare towns
Temple vs Thornton vs New Ipswich
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%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% 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 | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
2,799 |
5,310Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Thornton 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| New Ipswich 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±$27kHighest about the NH average |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| Temple and New Ipswich 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 |
$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% 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 |
$5,647 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest 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 | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.