Compare towns
Cornish vs Mapleton vs Charlestown vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Charlestown has the most renters (21.5% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Charlestown | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,884 |
4,889Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Charlestown 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 14% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Cornish School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.