Compare towns
Salisbury vs Bridgewater 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 the most people working from home (23.3%).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
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 | Bridgewater | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
1,169Lowest |
1,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Lowest 19% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
54±8.3 25% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Cornish 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% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
| Salisbury and Cornish 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 |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Salisbury 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 |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
| 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 12% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Newfound Area School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.