Compare towns

Sunapee vs Exeter vs Enfield

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 housing (typical home built 1975).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Enfield has the most homeowners (82.1%).

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.

MeasureSunapeeExeterEnfield
People
Population
3,416Lowest
16,151Highest
4,475
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-2.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
56.7±1.4
31% above NH
45.8±2.3Lowest
6% above NH
58.3±5.4Highest
35% above NH
Enfield 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%
17%±2.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
7.9%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
33.3%±7.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
30.7%±7.6
NH: 20.1%
Sunapee and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
59.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
43%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.5
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
2.7%±3.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Exeter 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
$110,346±$13kHighest
11% above NH
$95,474±$19kLowest
4% below NH
Exeter 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
$456,600±$21kHighest
13% above NH
$390,800±$71kLowest
about the NH average
Exeter and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,713±$451
15% above NH
$1,856±$223Highest
24% above NH
$1,181±$563Lowest
21% below NH
Exeter 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
$8,814Highest
32% above NH
$6,203
7% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.6%±10.5
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
17.8%±16.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
12.4%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
16.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
NH: 72.8%
69.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above NH
25 min
7% below NH
24 minLowest
11% below NH
Work from home
9.5%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
11%±5.7
NH: 16.8%
Exeter and Enfield 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 #22 of 120 in NH #5 of 120 in NH
School district Sunapee School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town Sunapee Sr. High School Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9Lowest
12.1Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 59 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.