Little pockets of history and nature can be found throughout the Peterborough community. “Known as ‘Our Town,’ Peterborough is the basis of Thorton Wilder’s famous play; he was a resident at the McDowell Colony known nationally as a retreat for artists, writers and musicians,” says Janet McEwen, Associate Broker at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty, with over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry and Monadnock Region resident. “Located in the heart of The Monadnock Region of southwestern New Hampshire, Peterborough is a ‘destination’ location.” The Contoocook River, which flows through the heart of town, pairs a unique contrast to the main street lineup of local businesses. Similarly, Edward MacDowell Lake which lies within Peterborough, boasts additional natural beauty in Peterborough and is a popular local fishing and kayaking spot. “People migrate here for the special quality of life, the relaxed pace and its beauty in all four seasons.”
Peterborough
Located in Hillsborough County
Depot Square businesses to Shaw’s
Along U.S. Route 202, locals have a wide selection of restaurants from which to choose. Depot Square houses the town’s creative and culinary talents, including Twin Elm Farm for antiques and Harlow’s Pub and Restaurant for bar food bites. For a classic breakfast, like syrup-covered pancakes, locals find themselves among the green and cream, checkered, tile floors in the historic Peterborough Diner lunch car. Across the street, serving Irish pub food and artfully poured Guinness, locals dine at Coopershill. In Depot Square, there is an assortment of locally owned businesses that people can walk to on the sidewalks, including Tria Yoga for classes and massage therapy or Knitty Gritty for yarn and crochet supplies. Roy’s Market is a convenient stop in this shopping area for everyday grocery items. To load their medicine cabinets and pantries, locals appreciate that Shaw’s and CVS Pharmacy are off the same exit on state Route 101.
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Peterborough Players and the arts
Taking time off the slopes and trails, residents enjoy attending multiple events in town and in neighboring towns. “The area offers music, the arts and numerous cultural activities,” McEwen says. “The Peterborough Players provides the venue for summer theater.”
Pond-side estates to townhouses
Along the drive across town, residents pass a variety of Dutch Colonial and Colonial Revival houses, some built as far back as 1800 and other houses as new as 2022. Townhouses are also built in Colonial Revival style in this neighborhood and hold a median price of $316,000. The yards where these homes and townhouses are located, consist of hilly and sloping terrain, so if residents do not have a sledding hill, then their neighbor or friends in town might. The price list range is $248,000 to $2.6 million. This range is mostly impacted by acreage and proximity to water pockets dispersed throughout the area, such as Cranberry Meadow Pond. A new three-bedroom home sitting on 19 acres by Cranberry Meadow Pond, costs $1.9 million dollars, while a three-bedroom home on less than half an acre, costs $245,000.
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Contoocook Valley teaches applied technology
Students may begin taking classes at Peterborough Elementary School, within the Contoocook Valley School District, starting in kindergarten. This elementary school earns a Grade of B-plus from Niche. Starting in fifth grade, students may begin at South Meadow School; Niche gives this middle school a B-minus grade. Similarly, Contoocook Valley Regional High School, where students may begin in ninth grade, also earns a Grade of B-minus from Niche. At the high school, students can take courses within the Region 14 Applied Technology Center, which boasts career readiness.
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Cunningham Pond and parks
Residents jump into summertime fun with a splash at Cunningham Pond. This swimming and boating destination is within the 99 acres of Cunningham Pond Conservation Area. Within the park, there are 1.5 miles of trails where locals walk with their dogs and appreciate the scenery with timber bridges guiding them over the water. At Miller State Park, residents are treated to additional examples of natural beauty, especially as the leaves change along the section of Wapack Trail contained within Miller State Park. To get the kids out of the house and to a playground or to challenge a friend in pickleball and tennis matches, residents drive to Adam's Park.
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Driving around the Monadnock Region
Whether traveling to the park or to Depot Square’s amenities, U.S. Route 202 and state Route 101 help guide residents to their destinations.
Written By
Lauren Melton
Photography Contributed By
Jeff Rainone
Video By
Everett Hall-McNeill
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this area.
Agents Specializing in this Area
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Tony LaCasse
Tony LaCasse
EXP Realty
(603) 932-7414
69 Total Sales
1 in Peterborough
$405,000 Price
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Peg Walsh
Peg Walsh
Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty
(844) 614-0494
99 Total Sales
38 in Peterborough
$125K - $925K Price Range
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Katie Oddy
Katie Oddy
REAL Broker NH, LLC
(877) 816-3238
68 Total Sales
1 in Peterborough
$420,000 Price
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Shannon Sloane
Shannon Sloane
eXp Realty
(857) 567-3268
40 Total Sales
1 in Peterborough
$267,500 Price
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Sandra Buker
Sandra Buker
Keller Williams Realty/Merrimack Valley
(978) 404-5461
98 Total Sales
1 in Peterborough
$325,000 Price
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Cory Gracie
Cory Gracie
LAER Realty Partners
(351) 208-1774
224 Total Sales
1 in Peterborough
$332,000 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
- Pre-K to 8th
- Private
Parks in this Area
Miller State Park
Adam's Playground
Peterborough Housing Trends
On average, homes in Peterborough, NH sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Peterborough, NH over the last 12 months is $449,500, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$499,000
Median Sale Price
$449,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$580,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$406,500
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$357,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
102
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
4%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$327
Area Facts
Number of Homes
1,190
Number of Homes for Sale
27
Median Year Built
1978
Months of Supply
3.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,248
Above the national average
1,931
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,560
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,373
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
578
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
800
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
30,056
Open Houses
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Saturday, Apr 11
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Saturday, Apr 11
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Sunday, Apr 12Open Sun 1PM - 3PM
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Distribution of Home Values
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
Rental Home Trends
Number of Homes for Rent
2
Median Rent
$2,675
Median Single Family Home Rent
$2,600
Median 3 Bedroom Single Family Home Rent
$2,750
Median Condo Rent
$2,400
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$2,400
Weather
Annual Precipitation
46''
Average Winter Low Temperature
13°F
Average Summer High Temperature
80°F
Annual Snowfall
46''
Area Factors
Fairly friendly
Bike Score®
40
/ 100
Somewhat friendly
Walk Score®
30
/ 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
