Compare towns
Gilford vs Sunapee vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Gilford | Sunapee | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
3,416 |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Gilford and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Gilford and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Sunapee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,868 27% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,731Highest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Sanbornton 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Sunapee School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.