Compare towns
Barnstead vs Loudon 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
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Loudon has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Barnstead | Loudon | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,692Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Sunapee 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley 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.