Compare towns
Westmoreland vs Sunapee vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmoreland has the most kids (14.5% under 18).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Westmoreland | Sunapee | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,237Lowest |
3,416Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.3±2.2 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
| Sunapee and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Westmoreland and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,444±$28kHighest 5% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Westmoreland and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,800±$12kLowest 13% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| Sunapee and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,354±$280 9% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sunapee and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,643Highest about the NH average |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.5%±23.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Westmoreland 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 | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Westmoreland School District | Sunapee School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.