What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lee	Sunapee
People
Population	4,576Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Sunapee and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6% NH: 40.6%	50.6% NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Lee and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH	$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average
	Lee and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH	$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average
	Lee and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,713±$451 15% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,661Highest 45% above NH	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lee and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the NH average	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#3 of 120 in NH	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Oyster River Coop 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	10 photos →	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.