Compare towns
Fairlee vs Peterborough vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Peterborough has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Fairlee | Peterborough | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
6,408Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Lowest 34% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Peterborough and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$98,401±$8kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Peterborough and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Peterborough 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Contoocook Valley School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.