Compare towns
Meredith vs Kennebunk 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 the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Kennebunk | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
6,221 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2Lowest 40% 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% |
18.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Kennebunk 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. |
$452,800±$17k 36% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Kennebunk 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. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | 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 |
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.