Compare towns
Cornwall vs Lancaster vs Strafford vs Mendon
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 people working from home (24.4%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Lancaster | Strafford | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
3,216Highest |
1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 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±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornwall 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Cornwall 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | White Mountains Regional 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 | 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.