Compare towns
Temple vs Wrentham 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).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Wrentham | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
12,297Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
46.8±3.2Lowest 20% 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% |
19.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Wrentham 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% |
21.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$151,676±$17kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$654,900±$26kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,184±$628 16% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$7,373 136% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±15.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wrentham 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wrentham 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 | — | #49 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | King Philip · Wrentham | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | King Philip Regional High | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.