What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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	Sunapee	Amherst
People
Population	3,416Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH	45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH
Kids under 18	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%	20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	65.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Sunapee and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average	$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average	$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH	$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average
	Sunapee and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH	$9,773Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2%	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Sunapee and Amherst 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%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above NH	33 minLowest 22% above NH
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 120 in NH	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Sunapee School District	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Sunapee Sr. High School	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.