What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sunapee	Highgate
People
Population	3,416Lowest	3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.	44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Highgate and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sunapee and Highgate 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%	19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sunapee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.	$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sunapee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S.	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.	$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Sunapee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sunapee and Highgate 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Highgate 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	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	Sunapee School District	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	Sunapee Sr. High School	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.