Compare towns
Peterborough vs Athol vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the most people working from home (15.8%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Peterborough | Athol | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408 |
12,011Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peterborough and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Athol-Royalston | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | Athol High | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
11.6Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.