Compare towns
Croydon vs Appleton vs Cornish vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has the most kids (19% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Gilsum has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Croydon | Appleton | Cornish | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 798 |
1,360 |
1,816Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Croydon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Croydon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Croydon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$80,417±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Croydon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32k 27% below U.S. |
| Croydon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,579 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornish and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Croydon School District | Appleton Public Schools | Cornish School District | Monadnock Regional 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.