Compare towns
Sunapee vs Plainfield vs Goshen
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 most renters (24.1% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Goshen has the most affordable homes ($256k 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 | Plainfield | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Highest |
2,522 |
1,042Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
54.1±16.1 25% above NH |
| Sunapee and Goshen 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% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
26.8%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Goshen and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.5%±8 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
22.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$70,417±$26kLowest 29% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$255,600±$53kLowest 36% below NH |
| Plainfield and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,938±$416Highest 30% above NH |
| Goshen and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,760 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.2%±74.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goshen and Sunapee 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Sunapee 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 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.