What stands out worked out from the figures below

Conway has the most homeowners (71.2%).

Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Conway	Peterborough
People
Population	10,141Highest	6,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55±4.1Highest 27% above NH	52.1±1.9Lowest 20% above NH
	Conway and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Peterborough and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1%	30.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Conway and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Conway and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH	$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH	$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH	$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH
	Peterborough and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,087Lowest 39% below NH	$8,655Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±13.9Highest NH: 48.2%	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Conway and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 23% below NH	23 minHighest 16% below NH
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Peterborough and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Conway School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Kennett High School	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.