Compare towns
Needham vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Needham | Sunapee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
3,416Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Needham | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Needham High | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.