Compare towns
Sunapee vs Kingston vs Ossipee vs Bethlehem
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 oldest population (median age 56.7).
Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Kingston | Ossipee | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
6,275Highest |
4,521 |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Bethlehem 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% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem 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% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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 |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Kingston and Sunapee 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Kingston 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 15% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Sunapee and Ossipee 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 |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Kingston 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.9Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.