Compare towns
Sunapee vs Dover vs Jackson
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 most affordable homes ($393k median).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Dover | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
33,364Highest |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Jackson and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover 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±$20k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
| Jackson 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 about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
| Jackson and Sunapee 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,001 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Dover School District | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.