Compare towns

Sunapee vs Sutton vs Castleton

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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureSunapeeSuttonCastleton
People
Population
3,416
2,239Lowest
4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
48.1±4.1
24% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
9.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.3%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sunapee and Sutton 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%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,393±$20k
26% above U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
Sutton 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±$51kHighest
18% above U.S.
$362,600±$16k
9% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
Sunapee 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.
$1,656±$614
17% above U.S.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% 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
$4,400
41% above U.S.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.6%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
9.5%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Sunapee 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 — #39 of 70 in VT
School district Sunapee School District Kearsarge Regional School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Sunapee Sr. High School Kearsarge Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9Highest
10.4Lowest
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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.