Compare towns

Cornish 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).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.

MeasureCornishStraffordLyndeborough
People
Population
1,816Highest
1,372Lowest
1,616
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
51.4±4.7
32% above U.S.
50±3.2Lowest
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%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Lyndeborough 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%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
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%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford 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±$2kLowest
14% 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.
$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.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% 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
$5,796Lowest
86% above U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
$7,133
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1Lowest
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%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%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.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lyndeborough and Strafford 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 Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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

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.