Compare towns
Sunapee vs Putney vs Calais
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Putney | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Highest |
2,622 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Calais 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% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Calais 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.