Compare towns
Meredith vs Ripton vs Windham 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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Windham | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
508Lowest |
594 |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above 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. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above 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±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above 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 | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% 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% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Windham 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 |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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.