What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoneham	Sunapee
People
Population	23,355Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.	$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.	$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,713±$451Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 282 in MA	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Stoneham	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Stoneham High	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.