Compare towns
Meredith vs Stratham vs Durham 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%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stratham | Durham | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
7,754 |
15,080Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Stratham and Durham 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.