What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Douglas	Sunapee
People
Population	9,207Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Douglas and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.	$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.	$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Douglas and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sunapee and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#177 of 282 in MA	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Douglas	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Douglas High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.