Compare towns
Cornish vs Appleton vs Salisbury vs Fitzwilliam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Fitzwilliam has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Cornish | Appleton | Salisbury | Fitzwilliam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,360Lowest |
1,609 |
2,278Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
49.2±4.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,735±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$305,900±$34k 8% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
— |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$5,173 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±51.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Cornish School District | Appleton Public Schools | Merrimack Valley School District | Monadnock Regional 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.