What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe	Sunapee
People
Population	5,285Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Lowest 19% above U.S.	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sunapee and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sunapee and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.	$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.	$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sunapee and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%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	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Stowe Town School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.