What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Stoneham
People
Population	6,408Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stoneham 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 U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,655Highest 177% above U.S.	$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#59 of 120 in NH	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Stoneham
High school in town	Conval Regional High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.