Compare towns

Sunapee vs Gorham vs Meredith

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).

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.

MeasureSunapeeGorhamMeredith
People
Population
3,416Lowest
18,300Highest
6,758
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
33.3%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith 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
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,393±$20k
26% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
Gorham 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±$51kLowest
18% above U.S.
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
Meredith and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,713±$451Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
Sunapee and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,400Lowest
41% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.6%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and Gorham 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 #24 of 133 in ME #62 of 120 in NH
School district Sunapee School District Gorham Public Schools Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town Sunapee Sr. High School Gorham High School Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9
12.9Highest
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.