Compare towns
Sunapee vs Sheldon 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
2,267Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro 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 26% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sheldon 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 |
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.