Compare towns
Cornish vs Benson vs Lyndeborough
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).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Benson | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816Highest |
784Lowest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
50±3.2Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Lyndeborough 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% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Benson 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% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Lyndeborough 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. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Cornish 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. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Cornish School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.