Compare towns
White River Junction vs Sunapee vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k 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 | White River Junction | Sunapee | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
3,416 |
6,275Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kingston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.