Compare towns
North Hampton vs Sunapee vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | North Hampton | Sunapee | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Highest |
3,416 |
1,565Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
50.3±5.2Lowest 16% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bradford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$108,015±$21k 9% above NH |
| North Hampton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$341,700±$38kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,507±$206Lowest about the NH average |
| North Hampton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,307 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±22.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bradford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±8 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Bradford 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Sunapee School District | Kearsarge Regional 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 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.