Compare towns
Windham vs Sunapee vs Ripton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Windham | Sunapee | Ripton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
3,416Highest |
508Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ripton 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sunapee School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.