Compare towns
Meredith vs Smithfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Smithfield has the most kids (16.9% 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 | Smithfield | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
22,233Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% 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% |
16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Smithfield 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% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Smithfield 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. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Smithfield 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
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% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 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 |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Smithfield | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Smithfield High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.