Compare towns
Sunapee vs Exeter vs Wolfeboro vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
16,151Highest |
6,571 |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,174±$81 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 |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Bethlehem 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Exeter High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.1Highest |
11.1 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.