Compare towns
Cornish vs Middlesex vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Middlesex | Strafford | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,943Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Strafford 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Strafford 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 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Lyndeborough 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Strafford 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District | 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.