Compare towns
Auburn vs Rye vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
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 | Auburn | Rye | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
5,611 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,713±$451Lowest 15% above NH |
| Auburn and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Rye School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.