Compare towns
Hope vs Mapleton vs Sunapee vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Pownal has the most people working from home (23.9%).
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 | Hope | Mapleton | Sunapee | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,884 |
3,416Highest |
1,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$981±$636 31% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,212Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Hope 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 | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sunapee School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.