Compare towns
Peterborough vs South Hampton vs Sharon
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).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Sharon has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | South Hampton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
984 |
442Lowest |
| 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 |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
49.4±11.2 14% 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8Highest 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% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest 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 |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$113,125±$19k 14% 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$475,900±$38k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,458±$1k about the NH average |
| 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 |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,274Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest 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.