Compare towns
Sunapee vs Wilder vs Plainfield
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Wilder | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Highest |
3,087 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% 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% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | — | Plainfield 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.