Compare towns
Sunapee vs Madison 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 most renters (24.1% rent).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Madison | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
2,680Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above 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% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro 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 |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Madison 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 |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sunapee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 34% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Madison School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 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.