What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Windham	Sunapee
People
Population	19,188Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sunapee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S.	$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Windham and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sunapee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#95 of 133 in ME	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 14	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Windham High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.