Compare towns
Chittenden vs Ossipee vs Cornwall vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Chittenden | Ossipee | Cornwall | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
4,521Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
50±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 71% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.