Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Ripton vs Meredith 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 expensive homes ($547k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Wolfeboro | Ripton | Meredith | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
508Lowest |
6,758Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
30.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above 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 | $546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above 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 | $4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.