Compare towns
Cornish vs Mapleton vs Penobscot vs Lyndeborough
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Penobscot | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,884Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Penobscot 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%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Cornish School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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.