Compare towns
Sunapee vs Dorset vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Dorset | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
2,092Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Dorset 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 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.