Compare towns
Jefferson vs Sunapee vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Jefferson | Sunapee | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
3,416Highest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
56.7±1.4Lowest 31% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Jefferson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
| Sunapee and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
| Sunapee and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
| Sunapee and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,400 34% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Unity and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 29% above NH |
33 minLowest 23% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Unity School District |
| High school 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 |
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.