Compare towns

Sunapee vs Williston vs Goshen

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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Goshen has the most affordable homes ($256k 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.

MeasureSunapeeWillistonGoshen
People
Population
3,416
10,144Highest
1,042Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.7±1.4Highest
46% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
54.1±16.1
39% above U.S.
Sunapee and Goshen 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%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
26.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Goshen and Williston 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%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±8
U.S.: 17.2%
Sunapee and Goshen 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%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston 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.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$70,417±$26kLowest
13% below U.S.
Williston 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.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$255,600±$53kLowest
23% below U.S.
Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,713±$451Lowest
21% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,938±$416Highest
37% above U.S.
Goshen and Williston 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.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$4,760
53% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.6%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.2%±74.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Goshen 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
9.5%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #14 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Sunapee School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 —
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.