diff --git a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/pre-commit-ci.yml.jinja b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/pre-commit-ci.yml.jinja
index a57e2219..752b5126 100644
--- a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/pre-commit-ci.yml.jinja
+++ b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/pre-commit-ci.yml.jinja
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 # This workflow runs pre-commit hooks on pushes and pull requests to main
 # to enforce coding style. To ensure correct configuration, please refer to:
 #  https://lincc-ppt.readthedocs.io/en/latest/practices/ci_precommit.html
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Set up Python
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
-        python-version: '3.10'
+        python-version: '{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}'
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         sudo apt-get update
diff --git a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml.jinja
similarity index 90%
rename from python-project-template/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml
rename to python-project-template/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml.jinja
index f7cecc2e..fec3125d 100644
--- a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml
+++ b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/publish-to-pypi.yml.jinja
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 # This workflow will upload a Python Package using Twine when a release is created
 # For more information see: https://github.com/pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish#trusted-publishing
 
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Set up Python
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
-        python-version: '3.10'
+        python-version: '{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}'
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip
diff --git a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-main.yml{% endif %}.jinja b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-main.yml{% endif %}.jinja
index ff836b9d..2c537ffd 100644
--- a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-main.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
+++ b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-main.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ on:
     branches: [ main ]
 
 env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.10"
+{%- endraw %}
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py%}
+  PYTHON_VERSION: "{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}"
+{%- raw %}
   ASV_VERSION: "0.6.4"
   WORKING_DIR: ${{github.workspace}}/benchmarks
 
diff --git a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-nightly.yml{% endif %}.jinja b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-nightly.yml{% endif %}.jinja
index 583d988d..a3358e52 100644
--- a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-nightly.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
+++ b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-nightly.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
   
 env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.10"
+{%- endraw %}
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py%}
+  PYTHON_VERSION: "{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}"
+{%- raw %}
   ASV_VERSION: "0.6.4"
   WORKING_DIR: ${{github.workspace}}/benchmarks
   NIGHTLY_HASH_FILE: nightly-hash
diff --git a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-pr.yml{% endif %}.jinja b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-pr.yml{% endif %}.jinja
index be577f26..328ea864 100644
--- a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-pr.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
+++ b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_benchmarks %}asv-pr.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
 env:
-  PYTHON_VERSION: "3.10"
+{%- endraw %}
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py%}
+  PYTHON_VERSION: "{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}"
+{%- raw %}
   ASV_VERSION: "0.6.4"
   WORKING_DIR: ${{github.workspace}}/benchmarks
   ARTIFACTS_DIR: ${{github.workspace}}/artifacts
diff --git a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_docs %}build-documentation.yml{% endif %}.jinja b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_docs %}build-documentation.yml{% endif %}.jinja
index 6df816d9..17102b48 100644
--- a/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_docs %}build-documentation.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
+++ b/python-project-template/.github/workflows/{% if include_docs %}build-documentation.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 # This workflow will install Python dependencies, build the package and then build the documentation.
 
 name: Build documentation
@@ -20,10 +21,10 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-    - name: Set up Python 3.10
+    - name: Set up Python {{ py.pref(python_versions) }}
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       with:
-        python-version: '3.10'
+        python-version: '{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}'
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         sudo apt-get update
diff --git a/python-project-template/.pre-commit-config.yaml.jinja b/python-project-template/.pre-commit-config.yaml.jinja
index b16574ca..1fd949b0 100644
--- a/python-project-template/.pre-commit-config.yaml.jinja
+++ b/python-project-template/.pre-commit-config.yaml.jinja
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 repos:
     # Compare the local template version to the latest remote template version
     # This hook should always pass. It will print a message if the local version 
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ repos:
         # supported by your project here, or alternatively use
         # pre-commit's default_language_version, see
         # https://pre-commit.com/#top_level-default_language_version
-        language_version: python3.10
+        language_version: python{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}
 {%- endif %}
 {%- if 'ruff_lint' in enforce_style %}
   - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff-pre-commit
diff --git a/python-project-template/README.md.jinja b/python-project-template/README.md.jinja
index b39d9f63..5702f658 100644
--- a/python-project-template/README.md.jinja
+++ b/python-project-template/README.md.jinja
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 # {{project_name}}
 
 [![Template](https://img.shields.io/badge/Template-LINCC%20Frameworks%20Python%20Project%20Template-brightgreen)](https://lincc-ppt.readthedocs.io/en/latest/)
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ environments. If you have conda installed locally, you can run the following to
 create and activate a new environment.
 
 ```
->> conda create -n <env_name> python=3.10
+>> conda create -n <env_name> python={{ py.pref(python_versions) }}
 >> conda activate <env_name>
 ```
 
diff --git a/python-project-template/pyproject.toml.jinja b/python-project-template/pyproject.toml.jinja
index 5d6a9b32..8c4b23ba 100644
--- a/python-project-template/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/python-project-template/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 [project]
 name = "{{project_name}}"
 license = {file = "LICENSE"}
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python",
 ]
 dynamic = ["version"]
-requires-python = ">={{ python_versions[0] }}"
+requires-python = ">={{ py.min(python_versions)  }}"
 dependencies = [
 ]
 
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ testpaths = [
 
 [tool.black]
 line-length = 110
-target-version = ["py{{ python_versions[0] | replace(".", "") }}"]
+target-version = ["py{{ py.min(python_versions) | replace(".", "") }}"]
 
 [tool.isort]
 profile = "black"
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ line_length = 110
 
 [tool.ruff]
 line-length = 110
-target-version = "py{{ python_versions[0] | replace(".", "") }}"
+target-version = "py{{ py.min(python_versions) | replace(".", "") }}"
 
 [tool.ruff.lint]
 select = [
diff --git a/python-project-template/src/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %} b/python-project-template/src/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 99%
rename from python-project-template/src/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}
rename to python-project-template/src/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}.jinja
index 7bd3e031..772ee400 100644
--- a/python-project-template/src/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}	
+++ b/python-project-template/src/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 [MAIN]
 
 # Analyse import fallback blocks. This can be used to support both Python 2 and
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ persistent=yes
 
 # Minimum Python version to use for version dependent checks. Will default to
 # the version used to run pylint.
-py-version=3.9
+py-version={{ py.min(python_versions) }}
 
 # Discover python modules and packages in the file system subtree.
 recursive=no
diff --git a/python-project-template/tests/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %} b/python-project-template/tests/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 99%
rename from python-project-template/tests/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}
rename to python-project-template/tests/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}.jinja
index b5afc249..dad61ad6 100644
--- a/python-project-template/tests/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}	
+++ b/python-project-template/tests/{% if 'pylint' in enforce_style %}.pylintrc{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 [MAIN]
 
 # Analyse import fallback blocks. This can be used to support both Python 2 and
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ persistent=yes
 
 # Minimum Python version to use for version dependent checks. Will default to
 # the version used to run pylint.
-py-version=3.9
+py-version={{ py.min(python_versions) }}
 
 # Discover python modules and packages in the file system subtree.
 recursive=no
diff --git a/python-project-template/{% if include_benchmarks %}benchmarks{% endif %}/asv.conf.json.jinja b/python-project-template/{% if include_benchmarks %}benchmarks{% endif %}/asv.conf.json.jinja
index bc65f500..590c0768 100644
--- a/python-project-template/{% if include_benchmarks %}benchmarks{% endif %}/asv.conf.json.jinja	
+++ b/python-project-template/{% if include_benchmarks %}benchmarks{% endif %}/asv.conf.json.jinja	
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 {
     // The version of the config file format. Do not change, unless
     // you know what you are doing.
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@
     // The Pythons you'd like to test against. If not provided, defaults
     // to the current version of Python used to run `asv`.
     "pythons": [
-        "3.10"
+        "{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}"
     ],
     // The matrix of dependencies to test. Each key is the name of a
     // package (in PyPI) and the values are version numbers.  An empty
diff --git a/python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}.readthedocs.yml{% endif %} b/python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}.readthedocs.yml{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 83%
rename from python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}.readthedocs.yml{% endif %}
rename to python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}.readthedocs.yml{% endif %}.jinja
index 79bfc272..63d9fdaa 100644
--- a/python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}.readthedocs.yml{% endif %}	
+++ b/python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}.readthedocs.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 # .readthedocs.yml
 # Read the Docs configuration file
 # See  https://docs.readthedocs.io/en/stable/config-file/v2.html for details
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@ version: 2
 build:
   os: ubuntu-22.04
   tools:
-    python: "3.10"
+    python: "{{ py.pref(python_versions) }}"
 
 # Build documentation in the docs/ directory with Sphinx
 sphinx:
diff --git a/python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}docs{% endif %}/index.rst.jinja b/python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}docs{% endif %}/index.rst.jinja
index 4c2dc087..52f8390e 100644
--- a/python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}docs{% endif %}/index.rst.jinja	
+++ b/python-project-template/{% if include_docs %}docs{% endif %}/index.rst.jinja	
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py %}
 .. {{package_name}} documentation main file.
    You can adapt this file completely to your liking, but it should at least
    contain the root `toctree` directive.
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ create and activate a new environment.
 
 .. code-block:: console
 
-   >> conda create env -n <env_name> python=3.10
+   >> conda create env -n <env_name> python={{ py.pref(python_versions) }}
    >> conda activate <env_name>
 
 
diff --git a/python-versions.jinja b/python-versions.jinja
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0845287f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python-versions.jinja
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+{# You use this file by including it via jinja like:
+
+    {%- import 'python-versions.jinja' as py -%} 
+
+Then pass the python_versions list into the various macros like so: 
+
+  {{ py.min(python_versions) }} 
+
+This template creates no output, but does allow you to transform python_versions answer into a 
+number of helpful values for when you need a single python version. 
+
+Note that the import syntax and access MUST BE in the form above. Copier has problems processing import lines
+that are any more complex when they occur in files who's paths are also jinja templated. #}
+
+
+{# This gives a middle python version from a potentially long list of versions 
+For even-length lists we prefer the older of the two middle values. 
+   ["3.9","3.10","3.11","3.12"] -> "3.10" 
+For odd-length lists we prefer the middle value 
+   ["3.9","3.10","3.11"] -> "3.10"        #}
+{% macro pref(python_versions) -%}
+{%- set n = python_versions | length -%}
+{{ python_versions[((n+1)//2 - 1)] }}
+{%- endmacro -%}
+
+{# These give the minimum and maximum python versions supported #}
+{% macro min(python_versions) -%}
+{%- set n = python_versions | length -%}
+{{ python_versions[0] }}
+{%- endmacro -%}
+
+{% macro max(python_versions) -%}
+{%- set n = python_versions | length -%}
+{{ python_versions[n-1] }}
+{%- endmacro -%}
\ No newline at end of file