Compare towns
Salisbury vs Exeter vs Springfield 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 kids (20.1% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Salisbury | Exeter | Springfield | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,609 |
16,151Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
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%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
| Salisbury and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Cornish 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.