What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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	South Berwick	Sunapee
People
Population	7,670Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sunapee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.	$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Sunapee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.	$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,713±$451Lowest 21% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Highest 59% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Sunapee 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	#58 of 133 in ME	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.