Compare towns
Sidney vs Sunapee vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Sidney | Sunapee | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
3,416 |
3,351Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sunapee and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #14 of 120 in NH | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Sunapee School District | RSU 18 |
| 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 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.