Compare towns
Sunapee vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bethlehem has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Needham | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
32,459Highest |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Bethlehem 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Needham | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Needham High | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.