What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

Ashland has the most kids (21.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cornish	Ashland
People
Population	1,816Lowest	2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	54±8.3Highest 25% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
	Cornish and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Cornish and Ashland 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 NH: 40.6%	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
	Ashland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,821±$2kHighest 7% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,000±$69kHighest 26% below NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
	Cornish and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$227Highest 18% below NH	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
	Cornish and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,796Highest 13% below NH	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Cornish and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	12%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Cornish and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Cornish School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.