Compare towns
Meredith vs Sunapee vs Wilder vs Kingston
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 most people working from home (23.7%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
3,416 |
3,087Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% 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% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 8% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| 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 61% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.9 |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.