Compare towns
Sunapee vs Jay vs Meredith 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).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% 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.
| Measure | Sunapee | Jay | Meredith | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
471Lowest |
6,758Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Lowest 30% 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 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% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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. |
— | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Jay 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 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.