What are the schools like in Peterborough, NH?

Peterborough is served primarily by Contoocook Valley School District. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.7:1.

What is the median household income in Peterborough?

The median household income in Peterborough, NH is $83,906 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Peterborough, NH?

Peterborough has an average high temperature of 31.5°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 75.4 inches.

Peterborough, NH Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Peterborough, NH affordable or expensive?

Peterborough's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Peterborough is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $296,100 and the median rent is $1,366 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Peterborough, NH?

Peterborough has a violent crime rate of 45.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 428.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Peterborough, NH a Good Place to Live?

Peterborough is a small town of 2,247 in New Hampshire, with a median household income of $83,906 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Peterborough stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Peterborough is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Peterborough city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 104.1

Peterborough's overall cost of living index is 104.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Peterborough costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Peterborough, NH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$296,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,366	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	54.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$83,906	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Peterborough's violent crime rate is 45.9 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

45.9 /100k

Property Crime

428.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Peterborough is served primarily by Contoocook Valley School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Peterborough, NH	National Avg
School District	Contoocook Valley School District	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Peterborough sees average highs of 31.5°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 48.3 inches of annual precipitation and 75.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Peterborough, NH
Average High — January	31.5°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	48.3"
Annual Snowfall	75.4"

Demographics

Metric	Peterborough, NH	National Avg
Population	2,247	—
Median Age	60.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	4.5%	22.2%
65 and over	40.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Jaffrey, NH 6 mi Hancock, NH 7 mi Bennington, NH 9 mi Francestown, NH 11 mi Greenville, NH 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Peterborough

Peterborough, NH is covered by 1 ZIP code:

03458

Peterborough vs Other Cities

Peterborough, NH vs Jaffrey, NH Peterborough, NH vs Hancock, NH Peterborough, NH vs Bennington, NH Peterborough, NH vs Francestown, NH Peterborough, NH vs Greenville, NH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Peterborough, NH affordable or expensive?

Peterborough's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Peterborough roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $296,100 and median rent is $1,366/month.

What is the crime rate in Peterborough, NH?

Peterborough's violent crime rate is 45.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 428.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Peterborough?

Public schools in Peterborough are operated by Contoocook Valley School District. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1. 47.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Peterborough, NH a good place to live?

Peterborough, NH has a population of 2,247, a median household income of $83,906, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Peterborough?

Peterborough averages 31.5°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.3 inches with about 75.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Peterborough?

Peterborough, NH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 03458.

What is the population of Peterborough?

The population of Peterborough, New Hampshire is 2,247 with a median age of 60.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Peterborough?

Key numbers for living in Peterborough: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $296,100, median household income $83,906, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Peterborough side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.