Compare towns
Peterborough vs Dedham 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 renters (43.7% rent).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408 |
25,237Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Sunapee 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. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Sunapee 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. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dedham | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | Dedham High | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.