What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the most kids (18.4% under 18).

Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belmont	Sunapee
People
Population	7,392Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.5Lowest 9% above NH	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Sunapee and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
	Sunapee and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH	$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average
	Sunapee and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH	$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average
	Sunapee and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH	$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,585Highest 16% below NH	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±10.9Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Belmont and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below NH	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	9.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Belmont 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	#92 of 120 in NH	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Shaker Regional School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Belmont High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.