Compare towns
Sunapee vs Durham vs Keene
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Keene has the most kids (14.1% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Lowest |
15,080 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Durham 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±$51k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Sunapee and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Keene 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Oyster River High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.