Compare towns
Newfane vs Sunapee vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Newfane | Sunapee | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
3,416Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Lowest 40% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 66% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Fairlee 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Sunapee School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.


