What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

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	Pembroke	Sunapee
People
Population	7,438Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
Kids under 18	24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
	Sunapee and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH	$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average
	Sunapee and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH	$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average
	Sunapee and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH	$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH
	Sunapee and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,589Highest 14% above NH	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Pembroke and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 8% below NH	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Pembroke and Sunapee 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	#85 of 120 in NH	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Pembroke School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Pembroke Academy	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.