Compare towns
Sunapee vs Putney vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro
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 highest household income ($101k).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Putney | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
2,622Lowest |
6,758Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Wolfeboro 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro 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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.