Compare towns
Peterborough vs Danby vs Sharon
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 renters (43.7% rent).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sharon has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Danby | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
1,133 |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Danby and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danby 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 22% above U.S. |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| 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 22% above U.S. |
$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| 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 177% above U.S. |
$4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,274 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danby 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peterborough and Danby 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.