Compare towns
Wilder vs Sunapee vs Meredith vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Wilder | Sunapee | Meredith | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
3,416 |
6,758Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 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 | 11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury and Meredith 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 | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.