What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Exeter	Sunapee
People
Population	16,151Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Lowest 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%	50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6%
	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	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH	$101,393±$20kLowest 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	$393,000±$51kLowest 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	$1,713±$451Lowest 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	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below NH	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 120 in NH	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Sunapee School District
High school 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	59 photos →	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.