Compare towns
Sullivan vs Sunapee vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Sullivan | Sunapee | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
3,416Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Sunapee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Sunapee and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 24% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| 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.