Compare towns
Sharon vs Sunapee vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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 | Sharon | Sunapee | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
3,416Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | Sunapee School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.