Compare towns
Sunapee vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Meredith
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k 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 | Worcester | Ripton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,416 |
831 |
508Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Worcester 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.