Photo: SayCheeeeeese · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Peterborough is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
Peterborough differs from New Hampshire on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 03458. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Peterborough
Peterborough keeps up with checkups
It beats New Hampshire on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (81.6% vs 77.8%) and dentist visits (72.6% vs 68.8%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Peterborough
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.3%), vs 9.8% across New Hampshire. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (New Hampshire 20%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Peterborough adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New Hampshire. 1 in 15 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 11 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the New Hampshire figure falls outside Peterborough’s likely range; Peterborough’s figures come from ZIP code 03458, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Peterborough’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Peterborough is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, #29 of 126 in New Hampshire. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 95% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 79%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Peterborough’s median household income is $98,401; among the 8,797 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$123K), it’s healthier than 95%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Peterborough adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Hampshire.
Out of every 100 Peterborough adults…
Peterborough runs above NH on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Peterborough is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across New Hampshire. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Peterborough as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.4% of Peterborough adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.5% across New Hampshire.
Care in and near Peterborough
1 hospital in Peterborough, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Peterborough; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Hampshire
Share of adults, with the New Hampshire figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
How Peterborough adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Peterborough does better than New Hampshire.
3 in 10 Peterborough adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Peterborough and the towns around it
Peterborough’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peterborough | A | 31.2% | 9.8% | 8.2% | ZIP 03458 |
| Temple | A− | 33.8% | 10% | 11.6% | ZIP 03084 |
| Dublin | A | 29% | 9.7% | 9.8% | ZIP 03444 |
| Sharon | — | — | — | — | |
| Greenfield | B+ | 35.3% | 10.3% | 12.9% | ZIP 03047 |
| Hancock | A | 31.2% | 10.1% | 8.2% | ZIP 03449 |
| Harrisville | A | 29.3% | 10.6% | 9.8% | ZIP 03450 |
| Peterborough | — | — | — | — |
Sharon: fewer than 1,000 residents. Peterborough: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Peterborough adults live with a disability (New Hampshire 26.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Peterborough
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Peterborough is better than New Hampshire on 12 and worse on 2; on the rest, the New Hampshire figure falls inside Peterborough’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Peterborough | NH | U.S. | vs NH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.3%11.5–15.2 | 14.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.1%9.9–12.6 | 11.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.5–14.5 | 15.3% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.2%27.3–35.4 | 31.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.7–11.1 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%32.7–38.1 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.9%35–40.7 | 35.2% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.8%28.4–33.3 | 27.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.4–11.6 | 10.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.3%11.3–13.3 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.5 | 6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%4.9–6.8 | 6.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.5%7.8–11.5 | 8.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.2%6.8–9.9 | 10.8% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.1%17.4–23.2 | 20.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%12.2–16.1 | 15.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.6%27.7–35.7 | 32.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.9%3.9–6.1 | 6.8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%79.1–83.7 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.6%69.8–75.4 | 68.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.6%90.4–92.7 | 88.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.6%79.3–83.7 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 75.3%71.9–78.5 | 69.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.7%75.9–85.1 | 78.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.3%18–22.7 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.6%26.6–32.7 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.8%17.5–22.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.6%5.4–8.1 | 9.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.9%4.9–7.1 | 8.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.2%3.5–5 | 5.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.3%3.6–5 | 5.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.4%3.4–5.6 | 6.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.8%23.1–28.9 | 26.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%10.3–13.6 | 11.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10%8.7–11.5 | 12% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.3–9.1 | 7.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–4 | 3.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.1%5.3–7 | 6.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.4–3.2 | 2.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the New Hampshire figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Peterborough
Is Peterborough a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Peterborough is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health, #29 of 126 in New Hampshire. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Peterborough?
CDC estimates 31.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.3% and 35.4%, against 31.8% across New Hampshire and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Peterborough?
Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Peterborough’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Peterborough have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–6.1%), against 6.8% across New Hampshire.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Peterborough more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Peterborough.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Hampshire figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.