Compare towns

Sunapee vs Canaan 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).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

MeasureSunapeeCanaanCroydon
People
Population
3,416
3,811Highest
798Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
NH: +4.6%
-2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
56.7±1.4Highest
31% above NH
44.4±3.7
about the NH average
43±9.1Lowest
about the NH average
Kids under 18
9.9%±3.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
19%±6.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Croydon and Canaan 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%
19.1%±4.2Lowest
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%
28.2%
NH: 40.6%
21.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.5
NH: 6%
7%±2.5Highest
NH: 6%
4%±3.3Lowest
NH: 6%
Canaan and Sunapee 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
$81,583±$6kLowest
18% 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
$254,000±$26kLowest
37% 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
$1,140±$90
24% below NH
$991±$336Lowest
34% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,400
34% below NH
$5,985Highest
10% below NH
$3,806Lowest
43% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.6%±10.5
NH: 48.2%
74.4%±25.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
7.1%±75.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
12.4%
NH: 7.2%
13.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
77.3%
NH: 72.8%
86.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above NH
30 min
12% above NH
26 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
9.5%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
14.9%±6Highest
NH: 16.8%
5.3%±4.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Canaan 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 #83 of 120 in NH —
School district Sunapee School District Mascoma Valley Regional School District Croydon School District
High school in town Sunapee Sr. High School Mascoma Valley Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9Highest
10.3Lowest
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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.