Compare towns
Sunapee vs Gilford vs Center Harbor
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 renters (24.1% rent).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Gilford | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
7,830Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor 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% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Center Harbor 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% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Gilford 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 |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Gilford and Center Harbor 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 |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
— |
| Sunapee and Gilford 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 |
$4,868Highest 27% below NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Sunapee 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Gilford School District | — |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Gilford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.