Compare towns
Sharon vs Mapleton vs Marlow vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Peterborough has the most people working from home (15.8%).
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 | Sharon | Mapleton | Marlow | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 442Lowest |
1,884 |
855 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,274 165% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peterborough and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Peterborough and Sharon 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Marlow School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.