Compare towns
Sunapee vs Meredith vs Richmond vs Bethlehem
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Richmond | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
6,758Highest |
4,159 |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Bethlehem 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Richmond 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Richmond 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.