Compare towns
Braintree vs Sunapee vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Sunapee | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
3,416Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$975±$306 31% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Braintree 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sunapee School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.