Compare towns
Sharon vs Unity 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).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Unity | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 442Lowest |
1,375 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±11.2Lowest 14% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Sharon 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% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±3 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$87,500±$16kLowest 12% 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 |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$1k about the NH average |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,395±$209Lowest 6% below NH |
| Unity and Sharon 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 |
$5,394Lowest 19% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Unity and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% 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 | — | Unity 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 | 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.