Compare towns
Salisbury vs Marlow vs Cornish vs Madison
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%).
Marlow has the most renters (7.4% rent).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Marlow | Cornish | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,609 |
855Lowest |
1,816 |
2,680Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
| Cornish and Marlow 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% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow 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% |
33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Marlow 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 |
$110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Salisbury and Marlow 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 |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
| Madison 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 |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Salisbury and Madison 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 |
$5,826 13% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 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 | Marlow School District | Cornish School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.