Compare towns
Marlow vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro vs Washington
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 most kids (20.5% under 18).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 855Lowest |
3,416 |
6,571Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Lowest 22% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
55±4.7 27% 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%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Washington 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% |
29%±3Lowest 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% |
32%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Washington and Sunapee 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 |
$89,453±$12kLowest 10% 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±$49kLowest 19% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,106±$160 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 |
$4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee and Marlow 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Washington 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Washington 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.