Compare towns
Sunapee vs Mapleton vs Meredith vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Mapleton | Meredith | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
1,884Lowest |
6,758Highest |
2,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
53.3±3.6 37% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Sunapee 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 26% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$116,477±$18kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Newbury 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 18% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$463,400±$36k 39% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,695Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±24.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newbury 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Newbury 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.