Compare towns
Sunapee vs Keene vs Wolfeboro
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 highest household income ($101k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Keene | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Lowest |
22,939Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Keene and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sunapee and Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Keene School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Keene High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.