Compare towns
Jackson vs Kingston 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
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Kingston has the most kids (13.5% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Kingston | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
6,275Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
55.5±5.7Lowest 28% 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 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Kingston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Jackson and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below 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 | $6,001 10% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 31% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Kingston 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 | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jackson School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.