Compare towns

Goshen vs Sunapee vs Williston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goshen has the most affordable homes ($256k median).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureGoshenSunapeeWilliston
People
Population
1,042Lowest
3,416
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±16.1
39% above U.S.
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
Sunapee and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Goshen and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.5%±8
U.S.: 17.2%
33.3%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sunapee and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,417±$26kLowest
13% below U.S.
$101,393±$20k
26% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,600±$53kLowest
23% below U.S.
$393,000±$51k
18% above U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,938±$416Highest
37% above U.S.
$1,713±$451Lowest
21% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
Goshen and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,760
53% above U.S.
$4,400Lowest
41% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.2%±74.1
U.S.: 51.1%
34.6%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
6.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #14 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT
School district — Sunapee School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town — Sunapee Sr. High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.