Compare towns
Jefferson vs Unity 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
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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.
| Measure | Jefferson | Unity | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
1,375 |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
56.7±1.4Lowest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Lowest 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% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest 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 |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% 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 |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$4,400 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 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% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 29% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 minLowest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Unity 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 | — | Unity School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.