Compare towns
Cornwall vs Meredith vs Sunapee vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Cornwall | Meredith | Sunapee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
6,758Highest |
3,416 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Lowest 30% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 116% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.