What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).

Peterborough has the oldest population (median age 52.1).

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	New Ipswich	Peterborough
People
Population	5,310Lowest	6,408Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1% NH: +4.6%	+2.1% NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH	52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH
Kids under 18	29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	New Ipswich and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH	$98,401±$8kLowest about the NH average
	New Ipswich and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average	$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average
	Peterborough and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH	$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH
	Peterborough and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,647Lowest 15% below NH	$8,655Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2%	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	New Ipswich and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 22% above NH	23 minLowest 16% below NH
Work from home	12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Peterborough and New Ipswich 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	#82 of 120 in NH	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Mascenic Regional School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Mascenic Regional High School	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.0Highest
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.