Compare towns
Meredith vs Sunapee vs Lebanon 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 the most people working from home (23.7%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Lebanon | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
3,416Lowest |
14,999Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below 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% |
14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lebanon and Kingston 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% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest 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% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% 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±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%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 |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 min 23% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District | Lebanon School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Lebanon 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.