Compare towns
Meredith vs Ogunquit vs Plainfield 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 renters (24.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Plainfield | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,522 |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Sunapee 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Meredith 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Plainfield 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 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.