Compare towns

Sunapee vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton Beach

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 most kids (13.7% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

MeasureSunapeeWolfeboroHampton Beach
People
Population
3,416
6,571Highest
2,605Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2.3%
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
56.7±1.4Lowest
31% above NH
57±1.8
32% above NH
60.4±2.4Highest
39% above NH
Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
9.9%±3.4
NH: 18.2%
13.7%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.3%±7.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
34.6%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
33.7%±4.1
NH: 20.1%
Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
45%
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.5Highest
NH: 6%
2.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Sunapee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,393±$20kHighest
about the NH average
$94,375±$22k
5% below NH
$82,557±$17kLowest
17% below NH
Sunapee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$393,000±$51kLowest
about the NH average
$546,500±$60kHighest
36% above NH
$508,900±$76k
26% above NH
Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,713±$451Highest
15% above NH
$1,103±$76Lowest
26% below NH
$1,375±$130
8% below NH
Sunapee and Hampton Beach 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
$6,115Highest
8% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.6%±10.5
NH: 48.2%
12%±11.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±20.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton Beach 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
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
NH: 72.8%
78.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
4 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above NH
24 minLowest
11% below NH
25 min
5% below NH
Work from home
9.5%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.9%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
26.9%±6.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Beach 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 —
School district Sunapee School District Governor Wentworth Regional School District —
High school in town Sunapee Sr. High School Kingswood Regional High School —
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.