Compare towns
Cornish vs Lyndeborough vs Pelham
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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,616Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Cornish and Lyndeborough 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% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham 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±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Lyndeborough 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 |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,482±$457Highest about the NH average |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Pelham 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 |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Lyndeborough 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 | — | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.