Compare towns
Hancock vs Sutton vs Peterborough
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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Sutton | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Lowest |
2,239 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
48.1±4.1Lowest 11% above NH |
52.1±1.9 20% 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%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Peterborough 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest 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% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Hancock 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
| Sutton 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 |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
| 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±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,395±$209 6% below NH |
| Sutton and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Peterborough and Hancock 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.