Compare towns

Mapleton vs Meredith vs Sunapee vs Washburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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.

MeasureMapletonMeredithSunapeeWashburn
People
Population
1,884
6,758Highest
3,416
1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
48.2±7.7
24% above U.S.
Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.3%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$101,393±$20kHighest
26% above U.S.
$56,196±$6kLowest
30% below U.S.
Sunapee and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23k
42% below U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$393,000±$51k
18% above U.S.
$112,900±$14kLowest
66% below U.S.
Meredith and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277
57% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,713±$451Highest
21% above U.S.
$482±$62Lowest
66% below U.S.
Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789
43% below U.S.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
$4,400
41% above U.S.
$1,571Lowest
50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.6%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±24.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #62 of 120 in NH #14 of 120 in NH —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Sunapee School District RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School Sunapee Sr. High School Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.9
12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.