Compare towns
Sunapee vs Meredith vs Newbury vs Croydon
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
Croydon has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Newbury | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
6,758Highest |
2,027 |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
43±9.1Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Croydon 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 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6 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% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
53%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$116,477±$18kHighest 18% above NH |
$98,333±$21k about the NH average |
| 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 about the NH average |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$463,400±$36k 15% above NH |
$317,300±$33kLowest 21% below NH |
| 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 15% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
— | $991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
| 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 34% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,695Highest 15% below NH |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
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.