Living a Mountain Lifestyle in Peterborough, New_Hampshire

Peterborough, New Hampshire (population just over 3,000) is a beautiful and pastoral town set along hills in the mountains of New Hampshire. It is an interesting community for someone who enjoys a dose of culture, small town living, and the outdoors. After all it is been portrayed lovingly in one of the most popular high school plays of all time, Our Town, by Thornton Wilder. And more recently it is warmly portrayed as the place for a gangster from the TV show, The Sopranos, to hide idyllically when the rest of the mob is out to kill him.

The MacDowell Art Colony is a highlight. The oldest free library was founded here in 1933. Today Peterborough is a prosperous town that exudes a certain prosperity and small town values.

Where to Retire in Peterborough and Home Prices

The housing choices as a retirement community are somewhat limited in town, mostly in the form of private homes. Some retirees live here for the summer, and then migrate to a warmer climate.  These resorts have an array of condos and homes. There is one very interesting new age type of retirement community here (see Active Communities link at left)
According to Zillow, the median home value in Peterborough was $268,188 in early 2020. Prices tend to be a bit more expensive when compared to other parts of rural New Hampshire or Vermont.

What Is Special about Peterborough

Petersborough has an interesting downtown. It is a livable small city as well as a famous fictional location. There are many arts festivals and the MacDowell Art Colony, it is the gateway to the mountains and many excellent ski resorts, and it is home Peterborough Players

What Is Not Special about Peterborough

Winters are long, cold, and dark, unless you love small towns and winter sports! After all it is a small town

Climate and Physical Environment

Peterborough is located in southern New Hampshire near Monadnock Mountain (elevation 2290 ft.). The nearby Miller State Park features excellent outdoor activities in a wooded and mountainous environment.

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Restaurants & Cultural Scene

"First Friday" is a group of free events described as a "festive community celebration" on the first Friday of each month. These programs have included contra dancing, Folk Music, and Peterborough downtown. The MacDowell Art Colony imbues a significant amount of culture into the community. There is also the annual Children's Art Day Festival, which provides a significant number of activities. The Peterborough Players mount 6 productions every summer, often featuring big name actors such as James Whitmore. The Peterborough Town Library is one of 3 libraries in town.

Crime

Crime is very low.

Medical Facilities

Monadnock Community hospital

Transportation

Manchester Airport is about 37 miles

Valuable Links

Peterborough, NH

City-Data.com page on Peterborough

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