Compare towns
Sunapee vs White River Junction vs Kingston vs Meredith
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Kingston | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
3,364Lowest |
6,275 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Meredith 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. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and White River Junction 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 | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | — | Sanborn Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | — | Sanborn Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.