Compare towns
Sunapee vs Needham vs Wolfeboro vs Croydon
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 most renters (24.1% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Croydon has the most affordable homes ($317k 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 | Needham | Wolfeboro | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
32,459Highest |
6,571 |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Croydon 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±3.3 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. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$98,333±$21k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$317,300±$33kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Needham | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Needham High | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
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.