What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).

Washburn has the most kids (21.7% 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.

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

Measure	Sunapee	Washburn
People
Population	3,416Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.	48.2±7.7Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Washburn 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%	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sunapee and Washburn 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%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sunapee and Washburn 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.	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S.	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sunapee and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washburn 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	—
School district	Sunapee School District	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Sunapee Sr. High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.0Highest
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.