What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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	Kingston	Peterborough
People
Population	6,275Lowest	6,408Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH	52.1±1.9Lowest 20% above NH
	Kingston and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Peterborough and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Peterborough and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Kingston and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH	$98,401±$8kLowest about the NH average
	Kingston and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH	$404,500±$31kLowest about the NH average
	Kingston and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH	$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH
	Peterborough and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,906Lowest 19% above NH	$8,655Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2%	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Kingston and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above NH	23 minLowest 16% below NH
Work from home	15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Peterborough and Kingston 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	#78 of 120 in NH	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Sanborn Regional School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Sanborn Regional High School	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.