Compare towns
Sharon vs Stoddard 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 kids (22.4% under 18).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Stoddard | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
1,072 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2Lowest 14% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
| Stoddard 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Peterborough 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 |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
| Sharon and Peterborough 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 |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
$895±$751Lowest 40% 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 |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | Stoddard 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 History | 5 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.