Compare towns
Newbury vs Thornton 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 the most kids (17% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Thornton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,027Lowest |
2,799 |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
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%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newbury and Thornton 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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±$18kHighest 18% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Newbury and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,400±$36kHighest 15% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Newbury and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,695Highest 15% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Thornton 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 | None yet | 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.