Compare towns
Eliot vs Cornish vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Eliot | Cornish | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sanbornton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Eliot and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$452,300±$30k 36% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Sanbornton 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Cornish School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.