Compare towns
Sunapee vs Wolfeboro vs Brookline
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 most affordable homes ($393k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416Lowest |
6,571Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee and Brookline 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.