Compare towns
Middleton vs Sunapee vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Middleton | Sunapee | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
3,416Lowest |
8,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
42.7±2.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dighton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$136,646±$19k 69% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$501,900±$47k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,405±$192Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,452 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sunapee and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleton and Dighton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #14 of 120 in NH | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Sunapee School District | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
11.9 |
| 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.