Contoocook
Neighborhood in Hopkinton, New Hampshire
Merrimack County 03229
Countryside cottages and colonial-revival residences
Residential neighborhoods sit on smaller side streets that branch off from Route 103. Residents can choose to live a more rural lifestyle in countryside Cape Cods with gravel driveways and spaced-out neighbors divided by tall copses of New Hampshire forests. Closer to town are little suburban streets with paved driveways and spacious sidewalks. These New England homes in Colonial styles sit on nice-sized lots with nearby neighbors. There are few riverside homes, as some lots and roadways may be prone to flooding or high waters during heavy rainfall. Housing in Contoocook may often range between $350,000 and $650,000.
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Outdoor activities and local history in Contoocook
The village gem is the Contoocook River, which is known to house young Atlantic salmon and warm-water fish such as trout and bass. Right on the river is Riverway Park, the area’s major hub for community events. “At the end of last year, [Riverway Park] went through a major rehab. The town Parks Department completely rebuilt the lawn and the landscape and added nice fencing to keep vehicles off the park,” Lux says. Locals can listen to free music on Wednesdays at the park’s bandstand, and at the end of summer, the town and local organizations host a summer music series. Next door is the visitor center at the Contoocook Railroad Museum. Located in a 19th-century train depot, this historic building gives visitors a glimpse into the past. The historic Hopkinton Railroad Covered Bridge that connects Riverway Park and Riverside Pizza “is the oldest of its kind in existence in the country,” Lux says. “We work hard to preserve our history here.” The village also has dozens more opportunities for outdoorsy residents. “We’ve got tons of acres of conservation land, miles of volunteer-maintained trails, and a town pond with paid lifeguards on duty in the summer. I mean, I could go on,” Lux says.
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Hopkinton District School programs and sports
The area’s school system benefits from being "a small district, so unlike a regional school, it has smaller class sizes and more opportunities,” Lux says. Contoocook students first attend Harold Martin School, which teaches kindergarten through third grade. Then then go to Maple Street Elementary School for fourth through sixth grade. The school focuses on various academic programs as well as green initiatives. The student “waste warriors” work to ensure that lunch leftovers are composted properly before being used in the school’s class gardens. For seventh through twelfth grade, students attend Hopkinton Middle High School. It is considered the smallest public high school in New Hampshire, with standalone teams for both boys and girls varsity sports, including lacrosse, for which it is well-known. “The high school also partners with Concord’s Regional Tech Center at Concord High School, so our students can take part in their programs, like automotive technical courses and emergency medical training,” Lux says. All schools are graded a B-plus on Niche.
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A village community in the New Hampshire countryside
Living in Contoocook often means embracing the small-town village atmosphere. Neighbors gather at the Contoocook Riverway Park or at nearby farms for events, fresh food and live music. Folks can tour family dairy farms like Beech Hill Farm or Contoocook Creamery and get a scoop of ice cream or a gallon of milk. They can pick blueberries and peaches or grab a pint of cider at Gould Hill Farm. The village hosts an end-of-summer concert series on weekends in August and September at the Lewellen Bandstand at Riverway Park next to the museum. Their annual fall festival takes place on a Saturday in September and includes food trucks, live music, fireworks and a cornhole tournament. In December, the village hosts its Starry Starry Weekend, which consists of local merchants and artisans selling their wares before Christmas.Commutes to Concord and nearby Hopkinton
Drivers can reach Concord in about 20 minutes by traveling 12 miles east via Interstate 89. Though Concord does have a local bus system, Contoocook does not. Most folks get around by car, or they can carefully bike into the village center from nearby homes. Concord Municipal Airport is small, and is often used by the National Guard. For commercial flights, the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is located 32 miles south and can be reached by driving down I-89 and then Interstate 293. For emergencies and checkups, Concord Hospital is 12 miles east via Interstate 89, or 9 miles for drivers who take the Hopkinton Road route.
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Locally owned at the corner of Main and Maple
Contoocook’s hometown feel means that there are only a few locally owned restaurants in the village. Riverside Pizza was originally called Dimitri’s Pizza, which was owned by the Tsihlis family since 1989. Steve and his brother, who were friends of the family, bought the restaurant in 2022. “We’ve kept as much as the original establishment as we can, and the recipes are the same. The majority of our customers are repeat, local community members, but all year long we’ll get tourists passing through to reach Lake Sunapee or for leaf peeping in fall or skiing in winter,” Lux says. The Everyday Cafe and Pub is an all-day affair with breakfasts, baked goods, beer on tap and sandwiches to go. Colonial Village Supermarket is right on Park Avenue for everyday groceries and essentials, while Union House Oddities is an antique store with vintage art, glassware and accessories. Other locally owned spots include places like Contoocook Quiltworks and Tooky Village Barber Shop.
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Written By
Shelby Sullivan
Photography Contributed By
Noel Poage
Video By
Tyler Cataldo
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Dakota Coburn
Dakota Coburn
REAL Broker NH, LLC
(833) 658-6504
93 Total Sales
1 in Contoocook
$351,750 Price
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Kathy Perdue
Kathy Perdue
RE/MAX Synergy
(603) 288-1401
85 Total Sales
1 in Contoocook
$375,000 Price
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Phil Bates
Phil Bates
Galactic Realty Group LLC
(603) 691-2338
47 Total Sales
1 in Contoocook
$439,000 Price
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Matthew Brownrigg
Matthew Brownrigg
Lamacchia Realty, Inc.
(833) 774-1983
56 Total Sales
1 in Contoocook
$385,000 Price
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Kerry Raymond
Kerry Raymond
Coldwell Banker Realty Center Harbor NH
(888) 302-6471
51 Total Sales
1 in Contoocook
$463,000 Price
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Darcy Mantel
Darcy Mantel
Responds QuicklyBHHS Verani Concord
(877) 760-3659
75 Total Sales
1 in Contoocook
$436,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 3rd
- Public
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Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Contoocook | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 1 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 4 |
| Larceny | 1 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Contoocook Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Contoocook, Hopkinton sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Contoocook, Hopkinton over the last 12 months is $417,450, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$458,888
Median Sale Price
$417,450
Median Single Family Sale Price
$497,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$277,500
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$360,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
16
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
3%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$261
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
442
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1967
Months of Supply
1.50
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,065
Above the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,056
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,499
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
28,096
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,428
Median Age
48
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
21.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
27.2%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$91,354
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$104,633
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
98.8%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
38.4%
Advanced Degrees
20.5%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
70.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
13°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
64''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
28
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
45
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Hopkinton
Rural homes, family farms and access to Contoocook and the Hopkinton Fairgrounds
West Concord
Wooded lots fill this community just north of Downtown Concord
Webster
Rustic homes and family farms with access to Merrimack County waterways
Henniker
New England College, parks along Contoocook River and countryside homes and farms
North End
This spaced out suburb offers short trips to Downtown Concord
Penacook
An up-and-coming, relatively affordable village just north of Concord
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