Compare towns
Ryegate vs Sunapee vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Ryegate | Sunapee | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059Lowest |
3,416Highest |
1,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6 6% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
40.5±4.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brownington and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$75,556±$17k 6% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$193,800±$40kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 36% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$745±$504Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,912 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.5%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sunapee and Ryegate 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.


