Compare towns
Sunapee vs Wolfeboro vs Lancaster
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 highest household income ($101k).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Wolfeboro | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
6,571Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Wolfeboro 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% 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±$51k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 34% below NH |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | White Mountains Regional 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.