Compare towns
Eliot vs Sunapee vs Topsham
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% 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 | Eliot | Sunapee | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
3,416Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Sunapee 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. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Sunapee 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. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Sunapee School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.