Compare towns
Sunapee vs Lyndeborough vs Meredith
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).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
1,616Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
50±3.2Lowest 15% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Meredith 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% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Lyndeborough 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Lyndeborough 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 |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| 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 15% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Sunapee and Lyndeborough 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 |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Meredith 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Lyndeborough 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 |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.