Compare towns
Sunapee vs Alton vs Ossipee
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 most renters (24.1% rent).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Lowest |
5,994Highest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Alton 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Ossipee 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% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Ossipee 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 |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% 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±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
| Alton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
— | $1,601±$245Lowest 7% above NH |
| Sunapee and Ossipee 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 |
$4,401Highest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alton and Sunapee 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 | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| 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.