Compare towns
Gilsum vs Cornish vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilsum has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Gilsum | Cornish | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716Lowest |
1,816Highest |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Cornish and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dalton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
$91,821±$2kHighest 7% below NH |
$81,429±$36k 18% below NH |
| Cornish and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
$296,000±$69kHighest 26% below NH |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
| Cornish and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
| Gilsum and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,579 16% below NH |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Cornish and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Cornish 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.