Compare towns
Calais vs Sunapee vs Dummerston vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Calais | Sunapee | Dummerston | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
3,416Highest |
2,090 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sunapee School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.