Compare towns
Sunapee vs Windham vs Meredith vs Croydon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Croydon has the most affordable homes ($317k 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 | Windham | Meredith | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
16,038Highest |
6,758 |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
43±9.1 about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Croydon 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 about the NH average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$98,333±$21k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$317,300±$33kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 34% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Windham School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Windham High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.