Compare towns
Hancock vs Surry vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Surry | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
1,052Lowest |
1,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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 4% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Surry 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 8% above NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry 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 |
| 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.