What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Hampden	Sunapee
People
Population	7,896Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Hampden and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sunapee and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.