Compare towns
Readfield vs Sunapee vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Readfield | Sunapee | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
3,416Highest |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16k 14% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$299,600±$40kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$993±$116Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sunapee and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Manchester 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Sunapee School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.