Compare towns
Meredith vs Hooksett vs Newfields 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 renters (24.2% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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.
| Measure | Meredith | Hooksett | Newfields | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
15,057Highest |
2,023Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Newfields and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Newfields 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Newfields School District | 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 |
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.