The Town FilesContoocook, New Hampshire
Community in Merrimack County · population 1,427 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $421,300
- Household income
- $97,928
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 46.6
Contoocook is a community of 1,427 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $421,300, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of New Hampshire towns, more upscale than 91% of New Hampshire towns, better for families than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
How Contoocook ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Contoocook is worth $421,300, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $97,928, which is more affordable than 26% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,215 a month. 81.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Contoocook | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $421,300 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,215 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $97,928 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.7% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in Contoocook
| People | Contoocook | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.8% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 17.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 24.3% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 92.5% |
Weather in Contoocook
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Contoocook since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 2, 1961 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 26, 2026.
Severe weather in Merrimack County since 1996
Merrimack County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| January 2, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4355: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Merrimack County
Merrimack County had 77,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,857 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Contoocook itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Contoocook
3 public schools with 669 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopkinton High School | 9-12 | 300 | 13.0 |
| Maple Street Elementary School | 4-6 | 201 | 11.2 |
| Hopkinton Middle School | 7-8 | 168 | 10.5 |
Towns near Contoocook
- Hopkinton, NH2.1 mi · 5,914 people · home $506,900
- Webster, NH5.3 mi · 1,913 people · home $338,500
- Boscawen, NH6.1 mi · 3,998 people · home $286,500
- Henniker, NH6.3 mi · 3,166 people · home $296,400
- Warner, NH6.9 mi · 2,937 people · home $353,100
- Henniker, NH7.3 mi · 6,185 people · home $356,700
- Concord, NH7.6 mi · 43,976 people · home $350,900
- Dunbarton, NH9.7 mi · 3,005 people · home $484,100
Contoocook questions
Is Contoocook, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Contoocook scores better for retirees than 61% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 43%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in Contoocook?
The median owner-occupied home in Contoocook is valued at $421,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,928, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,215 a month.
What is the weather like in Contoocook?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 68.8 inches of snow.
Does Contoocook get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Contoocook since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 2, 1961. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)