What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peterborough has the oldest population (median age 52.1).

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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	Lebanon
People
Population	6,408Lowest	14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH	38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH
Kids under 18	16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%	14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Peterborough and Lebanon 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%	21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average	$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average
	Peterborough and Lebanon 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	$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH
	Peterborough and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$209Lowest 6% below NH	$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,655Highest 30% above NH	$8,149Lowest 22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lebanon 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 NH: 7.2%	7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 16% below NH	14 minLowest 48% below NH
Work from home	15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Lebanon School District
High school in town	Conval Regional High School	Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.7Lowest
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.