The Town FilesPeterborough, New Hampshire
Community in Hillsborough County · population 3,090 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $379,300
- Household income
- $85,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 55.5
Peterborough is a community of 3,090 people in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $379,300, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of New Hampshire towns, hipper than 96% of New Hampshire towns, more walkable than 87% of New Hampshire towns.
How Peterborough 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 Peterborough is worth $379,300, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $85,833, which is more affordable than 22% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,515 a month. 56.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peterborough | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $379,300 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,515 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $85,833 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.7% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Peterborough
| People | Peterborough | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.5 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.1% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 10.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.4% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 92.5% |
Weather in Peterborough
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.9 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peterborough since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 3, 1997 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 30, 2021.
Severe weather in Hillsborough County since 1996
Hillsborough County has been included in 31 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 |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County had 201,342 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,660 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Peterborough itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Peterborough
- Peterborough, NH1.3 mi · 6,418 people · home $404,500
- Jaffrey, NH5.5 mi · 3,058 people · home $217,700
- Jaffrey, NH6.0 mi · 5,320 people · home $245,500
- Rindge, NH8.7 mi · 6,476 people · home $415,400
- New Ipswich, NH10.1 mi · 5,204 people · home $392,400
- Wilton, NH10.1 mi · 3,896 people · home $381,500
- Antrim, NH12.0 mi · 2,651 people · home $298,800
- Mont Vernon, NH13.7 mi · 2,584 people · home $526,300
Peterborough questions
Is Peterborough, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peterborough scores better for retirees than 99% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 49%. 35.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.5).
How much does a house cost in Peterborough?
The median owner-occupied home in Peterborough is valued at $379,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,833, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,515 a month.
What is the weather like in Peterborough?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 68.9 inches of snow.
Does Peterborough get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peterborough since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 3, 1997. 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)