Compare towns
Sunapee vs Rollinsford vs Bethlehem
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 highest household income ($101k).
Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Rollinsford | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Highest |
2,626 |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem 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% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Sunapee and Rollinsford 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 |
$398,100±$33kHighest about the NH average |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rollinsford 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 |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851Highest about the NH average |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Rollinsford 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Rollinsford School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.