Compare towns
Peterborough vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408 |
32,459Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #59 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Needham | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | Needham High | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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.