What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Townshend
People
Population	1,363Lowest	1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S.	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.
	Townshend 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%	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Temple and Townshend 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%	19.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Townshend 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%	52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Temple and Townshend 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.	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average
	Temple and Townshend 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.	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Temple and Townshend 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.	$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.1
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.