Compare towns

Sunapee vs Sutton vs Wolfeboro 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 most affordable homes ($393k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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.

MeasureSunapeeSuttonWolfeboroMeredith
People
Population
3,416Lowest
9,452Highest
6,571
6,758
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.7±1.4
46% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% 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%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Sutton 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%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Sunapee and Sutton 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.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$94,375±$22k
17% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$393,000±$51kLowest
18% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Sutton 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.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
Sunapee and Sutton 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.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,531
45% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.6%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.5%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
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 #105 of 282 in MA #46 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH
School district Sunapee School District Sutton Governor Wentworth Regional School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town Sunapee Sr. High School Sutton High School Kingswood Regional High School Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9
12.6Highest
11.1Lowest
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.