Compare towns
Sunapee vs Highgate vs Wolfeboro vs Bethlehem
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 highest household income ($101k).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Highgate | Wolfeboro | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
3,528 |
6,571Highest |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro 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 |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.8 |
11.1 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.