Compare towns
Sunapee vs Topsham vs Croydon
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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Croydon has the most affordable homes ($317k 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.
| Measure | Sunapee | Topsham | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
9,706Highest |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Croydon 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% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$98,333±$21k 22% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$317,300±$33kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Topsham 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. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Sunapee 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.