Compare towns
Canaan vs Meredith vs Sunapee
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Meredith | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
6,758Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Meredith 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 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 |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Meredith and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.