Compare towns

Cornwall vs Amherst vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k 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.

MeasureCornwallAmherstStrafford
People
Population
1,208Lowest
11,861Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
45.9±3.5Lowest
18% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
65.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32k
42% above U.S.
$153,196±$10kHighest
90% above U.S.
$110,833±$19kLowest
37% above U.S.
Amherst and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49k
38% above U.S.
$537,600±$30kHighest
62% above U.S.
$431,300±$40kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,462±$256Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
Amherst and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726Lowest
116% above U.S.
$9,773Highest
213% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
11% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Amherst and Cornwall 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 — #20 of 120 in NH —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Strafford School District
High school in town None in town Souhegan Coop High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
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.