Compare towns
Sharon vs Nelson vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Nelson | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
648 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% 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 | 22.4%±8.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2 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+ | 41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Peterborough and Sharon 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 14% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$98,401±$8kLowest about the NH average |
| Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,395±$209 6% below NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| 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.