Compare towns
Meredith vs Mapleton vs Gilford 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 people working from home (23.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Mapleton | Gilford | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,884Lowest |
7,830Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9 24% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Gilford 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Sunapee 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Gilford 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 44% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Gilford 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,150±$747 19% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Gilford 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,868 56% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Gilford 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 | — | #45 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Gilford School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Gilford High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.5 |
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.