Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Thornton vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
2,799Lowest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Thornton 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 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Sunapee 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 5% below NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| 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 36% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$5,032Highest 25% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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 NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Thornton School District | 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 |
NH 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.