Compare towns

Peterborough vs Peterborough vs Bethlehem

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peterborough has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

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.

MeasurePeterboroughPeterboroughBethlehem
People
Population
2,539
6,408Highest
2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
55.5±9.2Highest
28% above NH
52.1±1.9
20% above NH
50.6±8.5Lowest
17% above NH
Peterborough and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.4%±4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
16.3%±5.1
NH: 18.2%
17.7%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Bethlehem and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
35.1%±5.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
30.6%±5.2
NH: 20.1%
28.2%±5.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Peterborough and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.4%
NH: 40.6%
62.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
45.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.2
NH: 6%
2%±1.1Highest
NH: 6%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
Peterborough and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,833±$15k
13% below NH
$98,401±$8kHighest
about the NH average
$85,029±$18kLowest
14% below NH
Peterborough and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$379,300±$57k
6% below NH
$404,500±$31kHighest
about the NH average
$288,300±$22kLowest
28% below NH
Peterborough and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,515±$290Highest
about the NH average
$1,395±$209
6% below NH
$1,174±$81Lowest
21% below NH
Peterborough and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,422
11% above NH
$8,655Highest
30% above NH
$5,418Lowest
19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.9%±20.1
NH: 48.2%
29.2%±7.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
41.3%±18.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Bethlehem and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.7%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%
NH: 72.8%
56.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
75.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
25 yrs older than NH
1970
9 yrs older than NH
1973Highest
6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
7% below NH
23 min
16% below NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
Work from home
16.1%±6.4
NH: 16.8%
15.8%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
31.2%±12.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Bethlehem 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 #59 of 120 in NH #34 of 120 in NH
School district — Contoocook Valley School District Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town — Conval Regional High School Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.0Highest
8.9Lowest
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.