Compare towns
Alexandria vs Peterborough vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alexandria has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Orange has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Alexandria | Peterborough | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,983 |
6,408Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.6±5Highest 21% above NH |
52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Alexandria and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Orange and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,194±$8kLowest 10% below NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Orange and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$27k 20% below NH |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,135±$273Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
— |
| Peterborough and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,021Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alexandria and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.4%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Alexandria 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 | — | #59 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Conval Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.