Town · New Hampshire
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough, town, in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Peterborough had 6,499 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,418 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,408 (±22). GEOID 3301160580.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,499
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,418 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,408 ±22
Median household income
$98,401
±$7,986 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $99,031
Median home value
$404,500
±$31,080 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $402,500
Median gross rent
$1,395
±$209 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $1,491
Where is Peterborough and what county is it in?
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. It covers 38.0 square miles of land, 169 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Peterborough: Peterborough (CDP, 3,090 in 2020).
Peterborough is in the Manchester-Nashua, NH metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Peterborough, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,499 people lived in Peterborough on July 1, 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, in line with New Hampshire (+2.7%). The 2020 Census counted 6,418 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,408 (±22).
| Measure | Peterborough | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,408±22 | 426,378 | −196 |
| Households | 3,024±275 | 168,740 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.04±0.19 | 2.48 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,478±342 | 177,734 | no clear change |
Peterborough's population since 2000
From 5,883 in 2000 to 6,499 in 2025: up 10.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Peterborough as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Peterborough?
The median resident of Peterborough is 52.1 years old; 16.3% are under 18 and 30.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.4%.
| Measure | Peterborough | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 | 41.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 16.3%±5.0 pts | 19.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 30.6%±5.2 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Male | 49.8%±3.9 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.4%±2.0 pts | 8.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.7%±3.0 pts | 80.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.8 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.9 pts | 4.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.6%±1.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.9%±2.1 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.5%±1.4 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.5%±2.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 10.8%±3.7 pts | 11.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.0%±0.6 pts | 5.5% | −6.1 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.6%±1.5 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 62.2%±6.4 pts | 41.5% | +11.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 31.8%±6.1 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.3%±2.9 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9%±1.1 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Peterborough earn?
Half of Peterborough's 3,024 households earn less than $98,401 a year (±$7,986), against $103,545 in Hillsborough County and $99,031 in New Hampshire. In 2015-2019 it was $107,756 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Peterborough | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $98,401±$7,986 | $103,545 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $124,439±$11,923 | $132,601 | – |
| Per capita income | $61,415±$7,878 | $54,111 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.7%±3.3 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.9%±9.0 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.0%±5.1 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.0%±3.2 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.1%±6.2 pts | 93.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Peterborough?
Owners occupy 56.3% of Peterborough's occupied homes and renters 43.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $404,500 by its owner (±$31,080). The median renter pays $1,395 a month including utilities, and 24.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Peterborough | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $404,500±$31,080 | $421,100 | +$92,027 |
| Median gross rent | $1,395±$209 | $1,623 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.8%±10.1 pts | 37.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,614±$199 | $2,452 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.3%±8.0 pts | 67.4% | −11.0 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.7%±8.0 pts | 32.6% | – |
| Housing units | 3,478±342 | 177,734 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.0 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.6 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.5%±7.6 pts | 56.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5%±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.6%±2.7 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 29.8%±8.5 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.7%±2.2 pts | 5.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Peterborough building?
Builders took permits for 11 new housing units in Peterborough in 2025 (11 in single-family houses), 1.7 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across New Hampshire.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Peterborough work and get to work?
65.2% of Peterborough's workers drive alone and 15.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.5 minutes.
| Measure | Peterborough | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.9%±4.7 pts | 70.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.5%±0.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 65.2%±11.0 pts | 70.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.0%±3.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 6.0%±6.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.8%±4.6 pts | 18.1% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.5 min±5.8 | 27.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Peterborough?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Peterborough (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $84,091 (Tract 230.01) to $105,349 (Tract 230.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 230.02Hillsborough County | 3,324 | $105,349 |
| Tract 230.01Hillsborough County | 3,084 | $84,091 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Peterborough) · Census block assignment files
How does Peterborough compare with other places in New Hampshire?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Peterborough is the 1,842nd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 41st-most populous of 221 in New Hampshire.
Peterborough ranks 107th of 235 places in New Hampshire with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 41st | 221 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 104th | 187 |
| Residents per square mile | 129th | 241 |
| Median household income | 107th | 235 |
| Per capita income | 45th | 240 |
| Median home value | 87th | 239 |
| Median gross rent | 89th | 221 |
| Poverty rate | 114th | 160 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17th | 239 |
| Median age | 46th | 239 |
| Owner-occupied share | 216th | 241 |
| Work from home | 104th | 214 |
| Travel time to work | 194th | 241 |
Peterborough's figures with every place in New Hampshire (CSV)
Every place in New Hampshire, sortable · Compare Peterborough with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Peterborough?
18 of the 57 figures for Peterborough on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Peterborough are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.