Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Carmel vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Carmel has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Wolfeboro | Carmel | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
2,941Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
46.4±4.5Lowest 19% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Carmel and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$256,800±$37kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,276±$187 10% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carmel and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 120 in NH | #77 of 133 in ME | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.