Compare towns
Sunapee vs Alton vs Hampton vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Sunapee | Alton | Hampton | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
5,994 |
16,426Highest |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Sunapee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Alton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
— | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Sunapee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 34% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Prospect Mountain High School | Winnacunnet High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
10.1 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.