Compare towns
Newbury vs Lee vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
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 | Newbury | Lee | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,027Lowest |
4,576Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,477±$18k 18% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Lee and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,400±$36k 15% above NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Lee and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,695 15% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±24.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newbury 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.