Compare towns
Salisbury vs Appleton vs Cornish vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
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 | Salisbury | Appleton | Cornish | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,609 |
1,360Lowest |
1,816 |
8,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$71,648±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Cornish 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 | — | — | — | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Appleton Public Schools | Cornish School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 16.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.