Compare towns
Cornish vs Nelson vs Sullivan
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Nelson | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816Highest |
648Lowest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Cornish and Sullivan 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sullivan 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±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Nelson 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 18% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,225±$275Highest 18% below NH |
| Sullivan 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Cornish School District | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.