Compare towns
Sunapee vs Meredith vs Hancock 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 affordable homes ($393k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hancock has the most kids (15.4% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Meredith | Hancock | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
6,758Highest |
1,791Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
53.8±4.5Lowest 24% 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hancock 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% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Sunapee and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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 |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sunapee and Hancock 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 |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.