Compare towns
Peterborough vs Sharon vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Sharon has the most homeowners (93.1%).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
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 | Sharon | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
442Lowest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
| Peterborough and Sharon 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% |
22.4%±8.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sharon 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| South Hampton 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±$8kLowest about the NH average |
$113,125±$19k 14% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$475,900±$38k 18% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,458±$1k about the NH average |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655 30% above NH |
$8,274Lowest 24% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| South Hampton and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| South Hampton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | South Hampton 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 | 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.