Compare towns
Cornish vs Thornton vs Calais
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Thornton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816 |
2,799Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Cornish 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Cornish 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. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Thornton 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. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Cornish School District | Thornton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.