Compare towns
Tuftonboro vs Alton vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tuftonboro has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Tuftonboro | Alton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,569Lowest |
5,994Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±7.5Lowest 20% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Tuftonboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,574±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Alton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $462,300±$46kHighest 15% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Tuftonboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,311±$358Lowest 12% below NH |
— | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
$4,183 37% below NH |
$4,400Highest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.3%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Tuftonboro and Alton 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.