Compare towns
Meredith vs Rye vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
5,611 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 12% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Rye 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±$48k 19% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Rye and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Rye 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.