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.
| Measure | Cornwall | Amherst | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.


