Compare towns
Peterborough vs Middlesex vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Sunapee 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 22% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.