What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	Sunapee
People
Population	14,449Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Pelham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH	$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average
	Pelham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH	$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH	$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH
	Sunapee and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 30% above NH	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 10% above NH	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 120 in NH	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Pelham School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Pelham High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.