Compare towns
Grafton vs Cornish vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most renters (16.9% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Grafton | Cornish | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
1,816Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Cornish and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Orange and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Orange and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$302,600±$35kHighest 25% below NH |
| Orange and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Highest 17% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
— |
| Grafton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239 21% below NH |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
$5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Cornish School District | — |
| High school 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.