Compare towns
Cornwall vs Bedford vs Strafford vs Salisbury
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%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k 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 | Bedford | Strafford | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
23,746Highest |
1,372 |
1,200Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Cornwall 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% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Bedford 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. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
| Bedford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726 116% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Bedford 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bedford School District | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.