Compare towns
Enfield vs Salem 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Sunapee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Salem | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,475 |
30,964Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% 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% |
16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Salem 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 |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Salem 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Salem 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 |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Salem 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% |
5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% 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 minLowest 11% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Enfield 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Salem School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.