Compare towns

Springfield vs Stratham vs Sunapee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldStrathamSunapee
People
Population
1,122Lowest
7,754Highest
3,416
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-0.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.4±8.8
19% above NH
41.6±4.9Lowest
4% below NH
56.7±1.4Highest
31% above NH
Sunapee and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±8
NH: 18.2%
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Stratham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
33.3%±7.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7
NH: 6%
4.5%±3.5Highest
NH: 6%
Sunapee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,893±$19kLowest
about the NH average
$151,998±$20kHighest
53% above NH
$101,393±$20k
about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$384,100±$50kLowest
5% below NH
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$393,000±$51k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$217Lowest
26% below NH
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,713±$451
15% above NH
Stratham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,946
11% below NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$4,400Lowest
34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.9%±64.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
34.6%±10.5
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
75.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
29% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
33 min
23% above NH
Work from home
16.7%±11.6
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Stratham and Springfield 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 — #43 of 120 in NH #14 of 120 in NH
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 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.