Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Meredith vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Bethlehem | Meredith | Sunapee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
6,758Highest |
3,416 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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 14% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
11.9Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.