Compare towns
Athens vs Cornish vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Athens | Cornish | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,816 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Cornish 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Cornish School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.