What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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	Hartford	Sunapee
People
Population	10,736Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hartford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.	$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.	$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 85% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hartford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hartford and Sunapee 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	#34 of 70 in VT	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Hartford School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.