Compare towns
Meredith vs Bartlett vs Center Harbor 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
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Meredith | Bartlett | Center Harbor | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
3,281 |
955Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
57.4±4.7 33% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Center Harbor and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$371,400±$78kLowest 8% below NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,676±$97 12% above NH |
— | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$4,400 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Bartlett and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
31 min 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Bartlett 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #74 of 120 in NH | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bartlett School District | — | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.9Highest |
| 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.