Compare towns
White River Junction vs Sunapee vs Meredith vs Johnson
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%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Meredith | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
3,416 |
6,758Highest |
3,450 |
| 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% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest 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% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% 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±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% 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±$304 19% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% 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 | $5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% 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%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson and Meredith 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% |
12.2% 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% |
58.4% 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. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest 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 | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.