Compare towns
Salisbury vs Nelson vs Cornish vs Springfield
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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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 | Nelson | Cornish | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,609 |
648Lowest |
1,816Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Springfield 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 |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% 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 | $5,859 12% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Nelson 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 | 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.