Compare towns
Hancock vs Peterborough vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Hancock | Peterborough | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
6,408Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
51.4±8.8Lowest 19% above NH |
| Hancock and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Peterborough and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hancock and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Peterborough and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hancock and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield 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 | 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 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.