Compare towns

Sunapee vs Gilford 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).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Newbury has the most people working from home (20.1%).

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.

MeasureSunapeeGilfordNewbury
People
Population
3,416
7,830Highest
2,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
56.7±1.4Highest
31% above NH
48.2±3.9Lowest
11% 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%
20.6%±4.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
17%±3.2
NH: 18.2%
Gilford and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.3%±7.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.8%±3.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
23.6%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
Sunapee and Newbury 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%
45.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
53%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.5Highest
NH: 6%
2.3%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.3
NH: 6%
Sunapee and Newbury 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
$116,477±$18k
18% above NH
Gilford and Newbury 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
$463,400±$36kHighest
15% above NH
Newbury 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
$4,868
27% below NH
$5,695Highest
15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.6%±10.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
62.2%±8.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
50%±24.1
NH: 48.2%
Gilford 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%
6.2%
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
87.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above NH
22 minLowest
18% below NH
33 min
22% above NH
Work from home
9.5%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.9%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
20.1%±7.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
Newbury and Gilford 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
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On TownTapestry
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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.