What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Rollinsford	Sunapee
People
Population	2,626Lowest	3,416Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rollinsford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
	Sunapee and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH	$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average
	Sunapee and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,100±$33kHighest about the NH average	$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average
	Rollinsford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH	$1,713±$451Lowest 15% above NH
	Rollinsford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,851Highest about the NH average	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±26.1Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rollinsford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#94 of 120 in NH	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Rollinsford School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	None in town	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.9
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.