Compare towns
Meredith vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Castleton | Brookfield | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% 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 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 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+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$393,000±$51k 18% above 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 | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above 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 | $5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Meredith 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.9Highest |
| 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.