Compare towns
Salisbury vs Bennington 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
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Bennington | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
1,588Lowest |
1,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| 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%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Salisbury 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 13% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
| 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 29% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Salisbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859 12% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Cornish School District |
| 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 |
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.