Compare towns
Stark vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Stark | Sunapee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
3,416 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
56.7±1.4Lowest 31% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Stark and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stark and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$4,400 34% below NH |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stark and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Stark 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Stark School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.