Compare towns
Cornish vs Madison vs Effingham
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).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Madison | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816Lowest |
2,680Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Cornish and Madison 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% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Effingham 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% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Madison 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Madison 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 |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
| Madison 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±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
| Madison and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Madison 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 |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham 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 | Madison School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.