Compare towns
Cornwall vs Nelson vs Salisbury 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 expensive homes ($458k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Nelson | Salisbury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
648Lowest |
1,200 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Strafford 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1 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±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% 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. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% 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±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Nelson 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. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest 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% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Nelson School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.