Compare towns
Cornish vs Lancaster vs Tuftonboro
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 oldest population (median age 54).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Tuftonboro has the most expensive homes ($462k 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 | Lancaster | Tuftonboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
2,230 |
2,569Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH |
51.9±7.5 20% above NH |
| Cornish and Tuftonboro 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% |
25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Tuftonboro 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% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro 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% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
3.5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster 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±$2k 7% below NH |
$66,765±$20kLowest 33% below NH |
$100,574±$16kHighest about the NH average |
| Tuftonboro and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$200,500±$24kLowest 50% below NH |
$462,300±$46kHighest 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,036±$221Lowest 31% below NH |
$1,311±$358Highest 12% below NH |
| Tuftonboro and Cornish 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 |
$4,225 37% below NH |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±18.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
19.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Tuftonboro and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Cornish School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.