Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
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 | Eliot | Exeter | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,151Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.