Compare towns
Peterborough vs Sunapee vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Peterborough | Sunapee | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,539 |
3,416Highest |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±9.2 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,833±$15k 13% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,300±$57k 6% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,515±$290 about the NH average |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Sunapee and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,422Highest 11% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±20.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 25 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Peterborough 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.