Compare towns
Hancock vs Cornish vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Hancock | Cornish | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Lowest |
1,816 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Cornish School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.