Compare towns
Meredith vs Swanton vs Sunapee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Swanton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,670Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 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% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest 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±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$66,607±$27kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$229,000±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,238±$103 12% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,370Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.