Compare towns
Sunapee vs Exeter vs Newbury
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newbury has the most homeowners (87.7%).
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 | Exeter | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
16,151Highest |
2,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
| Sunapee and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3Lowest 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±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$116,477±$18kHighest 18% above NH |
| Newbury and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$463,400±$36kHighest 15% above NH |
| Newbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Lowest 15% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above 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 |
$5,695 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newbury 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newbury and Exeter 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 | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.