Compare towns
Kingston vs Epping 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
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Kingston | Epping | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
7,430Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Kingston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Kingston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Epping and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Epping School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Epping High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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.