Compare towns
Cornish vs Lancaster vs Croydon
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 the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816 |
3,216Highest |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
43±9.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Cornish and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Croydon 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% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Croydon and Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$98,333±$21kHighest about the NH average |
| Croydon 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$317,300±$33kHighest 21% below NH |
| Croydon and Cornish 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 |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
| Cornish and Lancaster 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 |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Cornish and Lancaster 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 | White Mountains Regional School District | Croydon 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 |
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.