Compare towns
White River Junction vs Sunapee vs Meredith vs Hartford
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 highest household income ($101k).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
3,416 |
6,758 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% 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 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 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+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Sunapee 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±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and White River Junction 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. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,773Highest 85% 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% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Hartford 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and White River Junction 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 | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.