Compare towns

Meredith vs Sunapee vs Upton

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 the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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.

MeasureMeredithSunapeeUpton
People
Population
6,758
3,416Lowest
8,189Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Lowest
19% 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%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.3%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
8% above U.S.
$101,393±$20k
26% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
$393,000±$51kLowest
18% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,713±$451Highest
21% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below 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.
$4,400Lowest
41% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
34.6%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton 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%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 min
24% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA
School district Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Sunapee School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Inter-Lakes High School Sunapee Sr. High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
11.9Highest
11.2
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.