Compare towns
Sunapee vs Wilder vs Jackson
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 housing (typical home built 1975).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k 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 | Wilder | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Highest |
3,087 |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilder and Sunapee 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% |
27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Sunapee 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. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Wilder 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 | — | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.