A slice of rural Americana in Temple, New Hampshire
Temple was incorporated in 1768 in the Monadnock region of southern New Hampshire. This small town in Hillsborough County retains many characteristics from centuries past. “There are no poles or wires on our little section of Main Street, so the town looks exactly the same as it did 200 years ago,” says Amy Cabana, owner of The Birchwood Inn, a 250-year-old building that sits in the middle of Temple. The Birchwood Inn, famous for its visit from American author Henry David Thoreau, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The inn is also home to 19th-century murals depicting the New England countryside painted by folk artist Rufus Porter. “They were discovered in 1971 under two layers of wallpaper,” Cabana says. While mountain recreation or American history might draw visitors to Temple, locals stick around for the community traditions and slow-paced, rural lifestyle.
Temple’s legacy of community spirit
Temple has sustained community organizations and events through the years, starting when the Temple Town Band performed for George Washington. The Temple Town Band is the nation’s oldest town band, and it’s still active today. Since 2009, members of Temple Town Music have come together to play, preserve and teach traditional bluegrass, gospel and Americana music. Good Roads Day is another longstanding Temple tradition, occurring on and off through the years since 1914. For this annual springtime cleanup day, residents work together to repair and tend to the town’s common areas, like picking up litter and raking leaves.
Housing, privacy and acreage in Hillsborough County
Single-lane country roads stretch past farmhouses, barns and horses grazing behind wooden fences. Properties typically come with significant acreage, with lots oftentimes covering from three to eight acres, allowing for privacy, tree cover or space to keep horses. Homes styles vary, ranging from 18th-century Colonials to 21st-century Colonial Revivals. Prices typically range from about $430,000 to $740,000. However, properties spanning 35 to 45 acres may cost between $1.5 and $1.7 million.
Hiking the Wapack Range and Pack Monadnock
Temple is situated near several trailheads and has an active hiking group. “It’s the gateway to the Monadnock region, so there are plenty of outdoor pursuits,” Cabana says, noting the hiking paths up Temple Mountain and at Miller State Park. The Wapack Trail traverses Temple Mountain at the western edge of the community. This path stretches over 20 miles, past ponds, stone walls, woods and fields, and is accessible from six trailheads. Miller State Park is also at the western edge of Temple. It is New Hampshire’s oldest state park and home to the summit of Pack Monadnock, which can be reached by car or via one of the three hiking trails that lead to the top.
Temple's businesses and eateries
Temple has a handful of locally owned businesses. At the center of town, Willard’s Store is a family-owned convenience store attached to the post office. Housed in a refurbished barn, Three in The Nest Bakery and Café has a comfortable dining area featuring leather chairs. Here, locals come to enjoy freshly made quiche, tea and organic offerings. Ben’s Sugar Shack & The Maple Station Market sells a wide variety of local maple products, from donuts to soft serve ice cream, plus deli sandwiches. “Within the last year and a half, Ben’s Sugar Shack has expanded to a maple station, a beautiful new facility with all things maple,” Cabana says. Porters at The Birchwood is the restaurant within The Birchwood Inn, which serves meals made from scratch to locals and visitors. “Everything is made in-house,” Cabana says. “The menu changes all the time with different specials every day; our chef gets bored.” More shopping and dining options, like Shaw’s for groceries, lie 8 miles west in Peterborough .
The public school pipeline in Temple
The Contoocook Valley School District, rated B on Niche, serves Temple. It follows New Hampshire’s open enrollment policies, allowing students to transfer within the district if seats are available. B-rated Temple Elementary is in town, where students work together to tend to the elementary school garden; in 2025, second graders planted garlic to be harvested by the first graders the following spring. Students may advance to South Meadow Middle, rated B-minus, and Contoocook Valley Regional High, rated B. Alternatively, High Mowing School is a private option for all grade levels and is located in the neighboring town of Wilton . This A-minus-rated school has a 100% graduation rate and offers both boarding and day attendance options.
Route 101 connects drivers to Peterborough
Temple is a car-dependent community with no public transportation. “It’s right off the 101 east-west highway,” says Leslie MacGregor, a Hillsborough County resident and the Director at GEP Dodge Public Library in the nearby town of Bennington. Route 101 traverses through the town and across the state, taking drivers 8 miles west to Peterborough, where Monadnock Community Hospital is located. “Downtown Peterborough is about 12 minutes away,” Cabana says. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is about 30 miles away via Route 101. “Temple is close to the Massachusetts border—10 to 15 minutes,” Cabana adds.
