Compare towns
Hancock vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hancock | Sunapee | Wolfeboro | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791 |
3,416 |
6,571Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Lowest 24% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.6±7 28% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hancock and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
| Sunapee and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Sunapee and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hancock 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.