Compare towns
Meredith vs Ripton vs Sunapee vs Conway
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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k 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 | Ripton | Sunapee | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
508Lowest |
3,416 |
10,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
55±4.1 41% 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Ripton 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. |
— | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,087Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Meredith 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Ripton 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sunapee School District | Conway School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.