Peterborough New Hampshire Community Profile
Peterborough, NH
Community Contact Peterborough Community Development Office
Carol Ogilvie, Community Development Director
1 Grove Street, Town House
Peterborough, NH 03458

Telephone (603) 924-8000 x104
Fax (603) 924-8001
E-mail ocd@townofpeterborough.us
Web Site http://townofpeterborough.com

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm

County Hillsborough
Labor Market Area Peterborough NH LMA
Tourism Region Monadnock
Planning Commission Southwest Region
Regional Development Monadnock Business Ventures

Election Districts
US Congress
 District 2
Executive Council
 District 5
State Senate
 District 11
State Representative
 Hillsborough County District 3
Incorporated: 1760
Origin: This territory was chartered in 1737 by the Massachusetts legislature, and the first settlers arrived in 1739. The township was probably named from Charles Mordaunt, third Earl of Peterborough. Peterborough was incorporated in 1760 by Governor Benning Wentworth, with continuance for two years only. The incorporation was renewed in 1762, to continue until disallowed by the King. Peterborough had the first free public library supported by taxation, and the first mill in the state that wove cloth mechanically. It is home to the MacDowell Colony, a retreat for writers, artists, and composers. Guests have included Edward Arlington Robinson, Leonard Bernstein, and Thornton Wilder, whose play "Our Town" was inspired by Peterborough.
Villages and Place Names: Drury, Happy Valley, MacDowell Colony, Noone, North Village, West Peterborough

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 861 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Peterborough totaled 3,340 over 50 years, from 2,556 in 1950 to 5,896 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was a 29 percent increase between 1970 and 1980, which followed a 28 percent increase over the previous decade. The 2006 Census estimate for Peterborough was 6,100 residents, which ranked 56th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2006: 160.5 persons per square mile of land area. Peterborough contains 38.0 square miles of land area and 0.4 square miles of inland water area.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2006 $14,136,655
Budget: School Appropriations, 2006 $7,569,092
Zoning Ordinance 1970/05
Master Plan 2003
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Selectmen; Planning; Zoning; Budget; Recreation
Appointed:
 Conservation; Library; Cemetery; Heritage; Capital Improvement; Economic Development

Public Library Peterborough Town

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 5/9
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer & part-time

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Monadnock Community, Peterborough Local 62

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Peterborough Water Works

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 None
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 Yes
Recycling
 Mandatory

Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
 Limited
Residential
 Limited

PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2006 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $20.75
2006 Equalization Ratio 94.8
2006 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $19.27

2006 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 77.1%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 21.6%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 1.3%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2006 Total Housing Units 2,747
   
2006 Single-Family Units 1,686
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 16
2006 Multi-Family Units 1,040
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 30
2006 Manufactured Housing Units 21
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2006 6,100 402,789
2000 5,896 382,384
1990 5,257 336,549
1980 4,895 276,608
1970 3,807 223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 2,685
Female
 3,198

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 318
Age 5 to 19
 1,285
Age 20 to 34
 706
Age 35 to 54
 1,842
Age 55 to 64
 512
Age 65 and over
 1,220
Median Age
 42 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 93.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 41.3%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $26,154
Median 4-person family income $54,375
Median household income $47,381

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $42,178
Female
 $27,422

Families below the poverty level 6.4%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1996 2006
Civilian Labor Force
 2,880 2,834
Employed
 2,796 2,737
Unemployed
 84 97
Unemployment Rate
 2.9% 3.4%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1996 2006
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 998 792
Average Weekly Wage
 $666 $865
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 3,192 3,489
Average Weekly Wage
 $550 $718
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 4,190 4,281
Average Weekly Wage
 $577 $745
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 117 667
Average Weekly Wage
 $453 $729
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 4,307 4,948
Average Weekly Wage
 $574 $743
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Contoocook Valley Cooperative (Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Greenfield, Hancock, Peterborough, Sharon, Temple) District: SAU 1
Career Technology Center(s): Region 14 Applied Technology Center, Peterborough Region: 14

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 1 1 1 1
Grade Levels
 P K 1-4 5-8 9-12 K 1-12
Total Enrollment
 374 520 1,154 96
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2007: Total Facilities: 7 Total Capacity: 309
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Franklin Pierce University; Keene State; Antioch New England

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Monadnock Community Hospital Health care 600 1919
NH Ball Bearings Precision bearings 500 1946
Peterborough Public School System Education 266
Eastern Mountain Sports Outdoor equipment and clothing 224 1977
Staff Development for Educators Educational seminars 170
Rivermead Retirement community 160 1995
Millard Group Inc. Mailing list brokerage 130 1987
Harborside Health Care Nursing home 100

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes 202
  State Routes 101, 123, 136
Nearest Interstate, Exit Everett Tpk., Exits 7 - 8; I-89, Exit 5
         Distance 27 miles; 33 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No

Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Jaffrey - Silver Ranch
Runway
 2,982 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 38 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 8

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 36 miles
Portland, ME
 132 miles
Boston, MA
 73 miles
New York City, NY
 232 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 257 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 81.6%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 6.4%
Public transportation
 0.3%
Walked
 3.9%
Other Means
 0.4%
Worked at home
 7.4%
Mean Travel Time to Work 23.3 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
 55%
Commuting to another NH community
 41%
Commuting out-of-state
 4%
    
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
Boating/Marinas
Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Mt Sunapee
   
Other: Miller State Park; MacDowell Colony; Shieling State Forest; Mt Monadnock

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2007. Community Response Received 08/09/07

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

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