Compare towns
Exeter vs Canaan 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Canaan | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,811 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Exeter and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Exeter and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Exeter and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Canaan 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.