Compare towns
Sunapee vs Chester 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).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Croydon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Chester | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
5,300Highest |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
43±9.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Lowest 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% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Chester 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 |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$98,333±$21kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$317,300±$33kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
— | $991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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 |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee and Chester 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Chester School District | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.