Compare towns
Middleton vs Sunapee vs Hanson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% 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 | Middleton | Sunapee | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
3,416Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Sunapee 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson 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. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sunapee 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Sunapee 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleton and Sunapee 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 | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Sunapee School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.