Compare towns
Sunapee vs Royalton vs Meredith
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).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Royalton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
2,752Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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% |
14.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Royalton and Meredith 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% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton 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. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Royalton 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. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% 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. |
$4,675 50% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Royalton 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | White River Unified School District #79 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | White River Valley High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.