Compare towns
White River Junction vs Sunapee vs Meredith vs Lebanon
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 the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
3,416 |
6,758 |
14,999Highest |
| 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% |
+8.6% 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. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| 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%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Lebanon 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% |
21.4%±2.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest 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% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Lebanon 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. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above 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±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Sunapee 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest 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% |
51.2% 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 min 42% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% 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% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.7 |
| 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.