Compare towns
Cornish vs Ogunquit vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Ogunquit | Strafford | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Highest |
1,379 |
1,372Lowest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Salisbury 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Salisbury 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Cornish 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Cornish School District | — | Strafford School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school 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.