Compare towns
Bennington vs Peterborough vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sharon has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Bennington | Peterborough | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
6,408Highest |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
| Peterborough and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sharon and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$113,125±$19kHighest 14% above NH |
| Sharon and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,395±$209 6% below NH |
$1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
| Sharon and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$8,274 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Peterborough and Bennington 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 5 photos → |
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.