What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jaffrey has the most homeowners (81.8%).

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	Jaffrey
People
Population	6,408Highest	5,448Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH	42.9±3.9Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Jaffrey and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%	18.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6%
	Jaffrey 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	$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH
	Peterborough and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average	$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH	$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,655Highest 30% above NH	$6,196Lowest 7% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	45.7%±23Highest NH: 48.2%
	Jaffrey and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	81.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 16% below NH	25 minHighest 8% below NH
Work from home	15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Peterborough and Jaffrey 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	#87 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town	Conval Regional High School	Conant Middle High School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	21.3Highest
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.