Compare towns
Salisbury vs Keene 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%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Keene | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
22,939Highest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% 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 |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Salisbury and Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Cornish 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Keene School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.