Compare towns
Castleton vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Castleton | Sunapee | Wolfeboro | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,416Lowest |
6,571Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Northfield 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.