Compare towns

Cornwall vs Brookline 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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.

MeasureCornwallBrooklineStrafford
People
Population
1,208Lowest
5,736Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% 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%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Strafford 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%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
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%
57.7%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%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Strafford 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.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
$110,833±$19kLowest
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49k
38% above U.S.
$544,400±$38kHighest
64% above U.S.
$431,300±$40kLowest
30% above U.S.
Brookline and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726Lowest
116% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
11% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline 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 — #23 of 120 in NH —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Brookline School District Strafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.