Compare towns
Webster vs Peterborough vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
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 | Webster | Peterborough | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
6,408Highest |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Peterborough and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$98,401±$8kLowest about the NH average |
$101,696±$8k about the NH average |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$1,395±$209Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 10% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$5,504Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster 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 | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| 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.