Compare towns
Sunapee vs Ogunquit vs Topsham 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Ogunquit | Topsham | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
1,379Lowest |
9,706Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
— | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Topsham 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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 |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | — | Mt Ararat High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | 12.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.