Compare towns
Meredith vs Sunapee vs Conway vs Kingston
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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Conway has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Kingston has the most kids (13.5% under 18).
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 | Sunapee | Conway | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
3,416Lowest |
10,141Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55±4.1Lowest 27% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Conway and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
| Kingston 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 |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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 |
$4,400 34% below NH |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Conway 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 min 23% above NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District | Conway School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kennett High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.9 |
11.7 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.