What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Tilton	Sunapee
People
Population	4,063Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±8.5Lowest 16% above NH	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
	Sunapee and Tilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Tilton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Sunapee and Tilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
	Sunapee and Tilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,667±$10kLowest 33% below NH	$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$216,700±$66kLowest 46% below NH	$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$330Lowest 36% below NH	$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH
	Sunapee and Tilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,622Lowest 46% below NH	$4,400Highest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.8%±17Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Tilton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 8% below NH	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	7.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Sunapee and Tilton 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	#88 of 120 in NH	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Winnisquam Regional School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Winnisquam Regional High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.