What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

Townsend 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sunapee	Townsend
People
Population	3,416Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend 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±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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 18% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Townsend and Sunapee 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.	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Townsend 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.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Sunapee School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Sunapee Sr. High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.