Compare towns
Alton vs Sunapee vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Alton | Sunapee | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
3,416Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Sunapee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,713±$451Lowest 15% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,400 34% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Sunapee School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.