Compare towns
Peterborough vs Thornton vs Sunapee
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Highest |
2,799Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Peterborough and Thornton 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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±$8k about the NH average |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee 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±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| 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 6% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| 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 30% above NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | 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 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.