Compare towns
Durham vs Cornish vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sanbornton has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Cornish | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Cornish and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sanbornton and Durham 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 | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Cornish School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.