What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peterborough has the most expensive homes ($405k median).

Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peterborough	Marlborough
People
Population	6,408Highest	2,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH	46±9.2Lowest 6% above NH
	Peterborough and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Marlborough 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%	23.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Peterborough and Marlborough 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	$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average	$267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH	$1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH
	Peterborough and Marlborough 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	$6,362Lowest 5% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Marlborough 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%	13.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	68.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 16% below NH	21 minLowest 21% below NH
Work from home	15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Peterborough and Marlborough 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	Marlborough 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

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.