Compare towns
Sunapee vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
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 | Lyme | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Sunapee and Lyme 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Lyme School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.