Lake Sunapee from Sunapee Mountain, N.H, 1900
Sunapee’s story
245 years in pictures
Census counts: 267 in 1790, 3,342 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1900 and 4 maps from 1902 on.
- 1781Sunapee is settled
SunapeeNH
Today 3,442 people live in this town, first settled in 1781. Public schools that outperform most of New Hampshire.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,442
2025 Census estimate · +2.9% since 2020
Typical home
$684K
+2% in a year
Household income
$101K
median
Median age
56.7
years
Jobs based here
632
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#64 of 125 in NH
Is Sunapee a good place to live?
Much to like here, and you pay for it. Sunapee’s overall grade, B+, puts it better than 66% of U.S. towns. That places it 64th of 125 in New Hampshire. Its best grade is for schools (A−): its public schools beat 84% of New Hampshire towns on state tests and graduation. Safety is another plus (A−): it reports less crime per resident than 75% of U.S. towns. The trade-off is cost of living (C−): the typical home is worth about $684K, 8.2 years of the Lebanon area’s $83K median household income. R.H. Webb Forest Preserve, at 377 acres with 2.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
Figures: schools, state test and graduation results · FBI crime data, 2025 · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · OpenStreetMap.
What makes Sunapee stand out
Where Sunapee beats most towns.
Sunapee School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Sunapee Central School | K–5 | 168 |
| Sunapee Middle High School | 6–8 | 101 |
| Sunapee Sr. High School | 9–12 | 131 |
SchoolsA−
#13 of the 126 New Hampshire towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
Library visits per resident
Sunapee8.4
Typical U.S. town3.4
Typical NH town3.3
Civic lifeA−
2.5 times the library visits per person
than the typical New Hampshire town
IMLS Public Libraries Survey.
How Sunapee grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Hampshire), ordered by how far Sunapee is from typical.
Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesC−Open →SchoolsSchools rank among the strongest comparedA−Open →SafetyAbove the middle of the towns comparedA−Open →HealthNew London Hospital 5.1 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$101K median household incomeBOpen →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.2 of 20; 1.1% of households have no car; 2.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors15% conserved landA−Open →History3 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life8.4 library visits per resident; 8.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Sunapee: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sunapee, and how to reach them.
PowerNew Hampshire Elec Coop24.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSunapee Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpSunapee Transfer StationIn townOpenStreetMap
Register to voteIn personNew Hampshire has no online registration; you can register in person up to and including Election Day or by mail only in special circumstances (received 13 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown Clerk of SunapeeThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes03782, 0375103782 90% · 03751 10%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 19, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sunapee.
Sunapee is a second-home town, but it reports more crime than New London and its other graded neighbors and has homes that cost more against local pay than most of New Hampshire.
SchoolsA−
Sunapee’s grade for schools is an A−
That grade is the best School Grade on its borders; New London (B) is next. It comes with a C− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $684K.
Below: Three of its 4 schools, each with why it was picked. The public schools here belong to the Sunapee School District. Public school enrollment locally: 400 students across 3 schools.
84%of NH districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunapee Central SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 168 | A− |
| Sunapee Sr. High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 131 | A+ |
| Sunapee Middle High SchoolTop results in townGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 101 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NH on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade C−
Sunapee’s grade for cost of living is a C−
At 8.2 years of the Lebanon area’s $83K median household income, the typical home (about $684K) costs more against local pay than in 98% of New Hampshire towns; that ratio is one input to that grade.
Zillow values the typical Sunapee home at about $684,000, up 2% in a year, 34% above the New Hampshire typical home. Its going rate for rent stands at $1,713 a month, where New Hampshire’s towns sit at $1,382 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month. Just over three quarters of households live in a home they own locally.
$684KZillow home value
| Sunapee | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,713 a month | $1,382 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 82% | 73% |
Typical home value
Sunapee$684K
New Hampshire$511K
+2%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyA−
Sunapee’s grade for safety is an A−
Sunapee is safe by national standards, yet each of the 3 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from New London (A−) to Springfield (A). Reported crimes fell from 44 to 19 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
New Hampshire has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Sunapee sits closer to the middle. The town’s property offense rate stands at 4.9 per 1,000 residents, against 4.4 in New Hampshire’s towns and 9.9 across U.S. towns. Its level of violent crime is 0.6 per 1,000 residents.
75%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Sunapee | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.6 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.9 per 1,000 residents | 4.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Sunapee0.6
New Hampshire1.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Sunapee4.9
New Hampshire8.3
U.S.15.5
75th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
39th
percentile among NH towns
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
17
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
With 0.5 jobs for every working resident, most of Sunapee’s workers commute out
The top destinations are Lebanon (15%), New London (9%) and Newport (8%). Most people who work leave Sunapee to do it: just 12% work in town. Jobs in Sunapee grew by 85 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 632. Its average commute is 33 minutes.
12%work in town
| Sunapee | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 6.7% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 16% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 9.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Sunapee12%
Lebanon15%
New London9%
Newport8%
Concord5%
20 mi
median commute distance
632
jobs based in Sunapee
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 44% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Sunapee is healthier than seven in ten U.S. towns
Within New Hampshire it is less healthy than 80% of the 126 graded towns: New Hampshire sets a high bar. All 3 graded neighbors score healthier than its B+, from Springfield (A) to New London (A+).
Among adults in Sunapee, 14% binge drink and 31% sleep under 7 hours. 28% of Sunapee adults feel lonely.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Sunapee | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 33% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 34% | 35% |
32 measures vs. New Hampshire
0 better24 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Sunapee | NH |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 15% | 8.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.3% | 6.2% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.9% | 6% |
New London Hospital
5.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
20th
percentile among NH towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Sunapee
Only 6 of the 126 New Hampshire towns we compare have a lower midsummer high than Sunapee. July afternoons reach 79°, January nights drop to 10° and about 66 inches of snow falls in a winter.
66″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–32°
Spring30–54°
Summer54–77°
Fall36–57°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsA−
Protected land: 14.7% of Sunapee
19 miles of trail wind through 16 parks and preserves. The trail network density for Sunapee comes to 0.8 miles per square mile.
#108for trails in NH
14.7%
conserved · 2,353 of 15,997 acres
19 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. R.H. Webb Forest Preserve | 2.3 mi | 377 |
| 2. Wendell Marsh | 1.4 mi | 317 |
| 3. R.H. Webb Forest Preserve (V-Oz) | 0.8 mi | 38 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
The biggest natural risk in Sunapee is inland flooding, at a moderate overall level
Since 2006, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Sunapee. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage here than in 54% of U.S. communities. Also worth knowing: households locally have drawn federal disaster aid in 11 declared disasters, most recently in 2023. Nearly four fifths of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding.
54risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
4
paid flood claims since 2006
11
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 61 attractions →Mount Monadnock and 27 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Sunapee. Close and well known come first.
37 mi MountainMount Monadnock
4 mi Ski areaMount Sunapee77 runs · 1,469 ft vertical
38 mi Ski areaKillington Resort184 runs · 3,031 ft vertical
32 mi Ski areaOkemo Mountain119 runs · 2,165 ft vertical
16 mi National Historical ParkSaint-Gaudens National Historical Park28K visitors a year
14 mi Ski areaRagged Mountain Resort42 runs · 1,103 ft verticalSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mount Monadnock: Jonwmcinenrey, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mount Sunapee: User:Josephbrophy, Public domain · Killington Resort: NHRHS2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Okemo Mountain: Jrclark (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park: Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ragged Mountain Resort: Tom Morgan, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sunapee
20pages on Sunapee
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 84% of NH districts · 4 schoolsSafetyA−0.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than NH on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$684K typical home · up 2% in a yearWork & commuteB$101K median household income · 632 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 54% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Sunapee
Colby-Sawyer CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · New London6.1 mi$19,125 tuitionRiver Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Claremont12.1 mi$6,940 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Sunapee residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Hampshire.
A commuter town
88% of working residents leave Sunapee for work
Where Sunapee’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
632jobs based in Sunapee
12%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Sunapee
3 notable people were born in Sunapee.
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About Sunapee
Place in New Hampshire, United States
Sunapee is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,342 at the 2020 census. The town is home to part of Lake Sunapee and includes the village of Georges Mills.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1781
- Area
- 25 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,056 ft
- ZIP code
- 03782
- Area code
- 603
Sunapee’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Sunapee.
New LondonNewburyGoshenCroydonSpringfieldSunapee
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NH rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunapee | #64 | B+ | C− | A− | A− | B+ |
| New London | #29 | A− | D | A− | B | A+ |
| Newbury | — | — | C | A− | B | A |
| Goshen | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Croydon | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Springfield | — | — | C | A | B | A |
Newbury and Springfield have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Goshen and Croydon aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Sunapee with a neighbor →
Questions about Sunapee
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sunapee, NH a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Sunapee grades B+ overall, better than 66% of U.S. towns and #64 of 125 in New Hampshire. It grades B+ for health, A− for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Sunapee, NH safe?
Yes, by national standards. New Hampshire has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Sunapee sits nearer the middle.
Is Sunapee, NH expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
What is Sunapee, NH known for?
3 notable people were born here, including John H. Bartlett and Charles H. Bartlett.