Compare towns
Peterborough vs Hampton Falls vs Sunapee
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).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
2,328Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton Falls 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 about the NH average |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31k about the NH average |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Hampton Falls School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.