Compare towns
Cornwall vs Durham vs Mendon 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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Mendon | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
15,080Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Cornwall and Salisbury 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Mendon 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.