Compare towns
Sunapee vs Hampton vs Auburn
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).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Hampton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Lowest |
10,101Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Hampton 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% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Auburn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,654±$93Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn 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 |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Sunapee 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | — | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.