Compare towns
Cornish vs Unity vs Salisbury vs Lyndeborough
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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Lyndeborough has the most expensive homes ($391k 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 | Unity | Salisbury | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,609 |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 25% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
50±3.2Lowest 15% above NH |
| Unity 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 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Lyndeborough and Salisbury 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 7% below NH |
$87,500±$16kLowest 12% below NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
| Lyndeborough 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±$69k 26% below NH |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Lyndeborough and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 13% below NH |
$5,394Lowest 19% below NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | Unity School District | Merrimack Valley 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 | 4 photos → | None yet | 7 photos → |
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.