Sunapee offers a vacation lifestyle for permanent residents
On the western shores of its namesake lake, Sunapee is a quiet New Hampshire town where life feels like a year-round retreat. “There’s a lot to do for people who come up here to vacation, and a lot of people decide that where they play is where they want to live,” says Alan Croteau, the principal broker at Real Property Options, with over 20 years of experience.
The town's history of tourism dates back to the 1800s, when visitors arrived on steamboats and stayed at grand hotels on the lakeshore. Today, permanent residents enjoy a full-time resort lifestyle, with a waterfront downtown featuring locally owned businesses and seasonal events on the hill overlooking the water. Lake Sunapee offers over 4,000 acres of waterside recreation for boating, fishing and swimming, with several public access points around the shore. Nearby Mount Sunapee Resort keeps the fun going in the wintertime with skiing and snowboarding.
Lakefront homes and rural escapes in New Hampshire
Custom homes, including cabins, chalets and Craftsman houses, line the waterfront streets in Sunapee. Tall maples, oaks and pines surround these properties. Many have private docks on the lake and big windows that look out at scenic views. Inland homes include ranch-style residences and farmhouses. Winding country roads have dense foliage on either side, offering a secluded feeling. Several other bodies of water are in Sunapee, including Perkins Pond and Ledge Pond, providing different options for waterfront housing. The community's median single-family sales price is around $800,000, higher than the nearby lake towns of Newbury and New London. The CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10 is lower than the national average of 4.
Lake access and ski resort offer four seasons of outdoor fun
Sunapee’s location on the lake provides access to year-round recreation. Mt. Sunapee State Park has a large beach for swimming, and kayak and paddleboard rentals. Dewey Beach is a public spot on Garnet Street that also offers activities like boat rentals and swimming lessons. Winter sports are popular at Mount Sunapee Resort, with eight ski lifts and 67 trails. The resort is open year-round and has scenic chair lift rides, disc golf and hiking in summer. Other parks around town have baseball fields and a disc golf course, while spots like Webb Forest and Dewey Woods include hiking trails.
Waterfront dining and small businesses near Sunapee Harbor
Locally owned shops and restaurants fill the downtown streets near the Sunapee Harbor. The Blue Canoe is a relatively new spot serving steak and seafood by the water. It opened in the building formerly occupied by The Anchorage, which holds significance in rock and roll. “This is actually where Aerosmith started, where Joe Perry and Steven Tyler met," Croteau says. "They’re a Boston band, but they used to come up here during the summer.” The two first crossed paths in the late 1960s when Tyler visited The Anchorage, where Perry worked as a server. Other dining options include Wildwood Smokehouse for barbecue or Bubba’s Bar & Grille, a waterfront spot in Newbury, known for its lobster roll and clam chowder. Shops downtown include a country store, an antiques shop and a clothing boutique. Groceries are available at Shaw’s in Newport, and Claremont has a mix of big-box and department store chains.
Summer events and live music fill Ben Mere Park with energy
Ben Mere Park hosts events throughout the summer on a hillside overlooking the harbor. Local musicians play at the park’s bandstand on Wednesday nights from July through August, showcasing a variety of genres. The annual Independence Day celebration begins with a watermelon race, where competitors attach an axle and wheels to a watermelon and send it racing down Maple Street. The day also includes a parade down Central and Main streets, live music at the park and concludes with a fireworks show over the lake. Local farmers, bakers and craftspeople bring their goods to the farmers market on Saturday mornings from May through August.
Highly rated schools from kindergarten through 12th grade
Sunapee Central School earns an A from Niche, while Sunapee Middle/High School receives an A-minus. High school students can earn college credit through the Running Start program and dual enrollment courses from River Valley Community College. The school's technical classes include computer science, engineering, game design and web design.
Highway access and bus service make commuting convenient
New Hampshire Route 11 is the main road through town, connecting Newport and New London. Interstate 89 is about 4 miles north, offering a highway northwest to Lebanon or southeast to Concord. A park-and-ride lot near the interstate allows commuters to carpool on the highway and is served by the Dartmouth Coach bus that travels to Boston. The closest hospital is New London Hospital, about 7 miles away. The nearest airport is about 29 miles away in Lebanon.
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Written By
Matthew Atkins
