Compare towns
Meredith vs Sunapee vs Gilford vs Sanbornton
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 the most people working from home (23.7%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Gilford | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
3,416 |
7,830Highest |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below 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% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Sanbornton 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% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Gilford and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Sunapee and Sanbornton 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
$5,731Highest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Meredith 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% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Gilford 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District | Gilford School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Gilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.5 |
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| 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.