Compare towns
Enfield vs Lyme vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Enfield | Lyme | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,475Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
| Enfield and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Lyme and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 120 in NH | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lyme School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.