Population 6,200 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Peterborough
Household size in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.07 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.13 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.05 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Peterborough are small: just 2.05 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.28 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other New Hampshire city with 5,000+ people has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.9 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.4 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.0 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 55.0 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.0 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Peterborough skews older: half of its residents are older than 55.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 47.9, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other New Hampshire city with 5,000+ people is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Peterborough: 5.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 7.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Peterborough has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of New Hampshire cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Peterborough
Renters in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.3% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.0% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +16.7 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Peterborough than nationally: 43.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among owners, 44.9% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share is up 16.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.5% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Peterborough than nationally: 12.5%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 3.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Peterborough is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the east has the oldest housing. Peterborough has older homes than at least four in five New Hampshire cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $834 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $916 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $921 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,369 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$535 | +$580 | +$606 |
Rent in Peterborough runs $1,369 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $535 a month from 2006–10, a 64% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 24.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the north; the highest are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Peterborough
Bachelor's degrees in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.8% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 56.5% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.2% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.9% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Peterborough: 58.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 5.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.0% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.3% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Peterborough: 97.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Peterborough
| Period | Peterborough | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.2% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.6% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Peterborough has been strong: just 0.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people, only four have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.9 points, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Peterborough compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peterborough | 2.05 | 55.0 | 5.4% | 43.0% | 12.5% | 1966 | $1,369 | 58.9% | 97.0% | 0.6% |
| Noone | 1.98 | 50.5 | 9.0% | 33.4% | 13.0% | 1968 | $1,594 | 49.3% | 98.2% | 0.4% |
| Dublin | 2.62 | 49.2 | 3.2% | 17.7% | 22.4% | 1968 | $1,311 | 45.8% | 97.9% | 1.9% |
| Greenfield | 2.45 | 50.0 | 2.6% | 17.9% | 9.7% | 1981 | $1,126 | 28.6% | 96.2% | 3.4% |
| Sharon | 2.57 | 48.6 | 5.5% | 14.8% | 8.3% | 1982 | $1,189 | 37.3% | 94.0% | 2.6% |
| Hancock | 2.39 | 53.7 | 1.6% | 15.3% | 10.8% | 1969 | $1,203 | 53.9% | 96.4% | 0.9% |
| Jaffrey | 2.52 | 45.0 | 6.3% | 18.6% | 11.8% | 1974 | $951 | 31.0% | 96.9% | 4.4% |
| Temple | 2.49 | 49.8 | 5.7% | 16.1% | 8.1% | 1981 | $1,201 | 38.7% | 94.6% | 2.6% |
| Squantum | 3.50 | 26.3 | 2.3% | 5.1% | 11.8% | 1985 | $1,103 | 32.8% | 95.7% | 2.1% |
| Harrisville | 2.36 | 56.7 | 2.8% | 8.3% | 34.8% | 1966 | $1,530 | 53.0% | 96.8% | 2.6% |
| South Lyndeboro | 2.59 | 44.1 | 4.9% | 7.8% | 11.8% | 1985 | $1,785 | 43.0% | 94.8% | 1.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Shoreham, NY · Schoolcraft, MI · Scottdale, GA · Seabeck, WA · Seeley, CA · Sergeant Bluff, IA · Shelby, MI · Shenandoah, IA · Shenandoah, PA · Sherman, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Peterborough. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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