Compare towns
Canaan vs Enfield 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
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Enfield has the most homeowners (82.1%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Canaan | Enfield | Sunapee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
4,475 |
3,416Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Enfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
43% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Sunapee and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sunapee and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$6,203Highest 7% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 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.