Compare towns
Peterborough vs Bennington vs Sharon
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Sharon has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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.
| Measure | Peterborough | Bennington | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
1,588 |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
| Peterborough and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sharon 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 NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Peterborough 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 about the NH average |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$113,125±$19kHighest 14% above NH |
| Sharon 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±$31k about the NH average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209 6% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
| Sharon and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,274 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Peterborough and Bennington 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.