Compare towns
Sunapee vs Unity vs Meredith vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
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 | Unity | Meredith | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
1,375Lowest |
6,758Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Unity 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 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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 about the NH average |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Sunapee and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
| Meredith 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 15% above NH |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
| Sunapee and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Unity School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1 |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.