What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

Sunapee has the most homeowners (75.9%).

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	Portsmouth	Sunapee
People
Population	22,545Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
Kids under 18	14%±1.9Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Portsmouth and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64%Highest NH: 40.6%	50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
	Sunapee and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH	$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average
	Portsmouth and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH	$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH	$1,713±$451Lowest 15% above NH
	Portsmouth and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,018Highest 20% above NH	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Portsmouth and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#11 of 120 in NH	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Portsmouth School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Portsmouth High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.9Highest
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.