Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Kennebunk vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Bethlehem | Kennebunk | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
11,820Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | RSU 21 | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Kennebunk High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.6 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.