Compare towns
Cornish vs Effingham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
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 | Effingham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,912Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 25% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
| Washington and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
29%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Washington and Cornish 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% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Washington 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 |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
| Cornish and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
| Washington and Effingham 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 |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
| Cornish and Washington 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 |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Effingham 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% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Cornish School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.