What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

Conway has the most homeowners (71.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peterborough	Conway
People
Population	6,408Lowest	10,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	52.1±1.9Lowest 20% above NH	55±4.1Highest 27% above NH
	Conway and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%	12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Peterborough and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Conway 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%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5%±3Highest NH: 6%
	Conway 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±$8kHighest about the NH average	$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average	$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH	$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH
	Peterborough and Conway 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	$4,087Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.3%±13.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Conway and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	71.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 16% below NH	21 minLowest 23% below NH
Work from home	15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Peterborough and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Conway School District
High school in town	Conval Regional High School	Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.7Lowest
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.