Compare towns
Sunapee vs Rye vs Hampton vs Wolfeboro
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 affordable homes ($393k median).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Hampton has the youngest population (median age 51.2).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Rye | Hampton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416Lowest |
5,611 |
10,101Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rye 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±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Rye School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.