Compare towns
Sunapee vs Bristol vs Croydon
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).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Croydon has the most homeowners (86.6%).
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 | Bristol | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Highest |
3,273 |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
43±9.1 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Croydon 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% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,333±$21k about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$317,300±$33k 21% below NH |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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 |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
| Sunapee and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 34% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Sunapee 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% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Newfound Area School District | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.