Compare towns
Peterborough vs Hancock 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 most renters (43.7% rent).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Hancock | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
1,791 |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
49.4±11.2Lowest 14% above NH |
| Hancock 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 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hancock 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 |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% 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±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
| Sharon and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209 6% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% 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 |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$8,274 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hancock 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 9 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Peterborough and Hancock 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.