Compare towns
Marlow vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Marlow | Sunapee | Wolfeboro | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 855 |
3,416 |
6,571Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Monroe and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.3%±8.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$88,150±$7kLowest 11% below NH |
| Marlow and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,104±$218 26% below NH |
| Sunapee and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$4,400 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$2,661Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48%±39Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Monroe and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.