Compare towns
Cornish vs Franconia vs Salisbury
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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Franconia | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816Highest |
1,060Lowest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 25% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
51.5±4.5Lowest 19% above NH |
| Franconia and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Franconia 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Franconia 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 7% below NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Salisbury and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Cornish 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% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Cornish School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Merrimack Valley 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.