Compare towns
Hampton vs Jackson 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
Hampton has the most kids (11.6% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
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 | Hampton | Jackson | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
897Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Lowest 29% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
| Jackson and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Jackson and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Jackson and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Jackson School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.