Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sunapee 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%).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Sunapee | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
3,416Highest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Lowest 19% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
54±8.3 25% above NH |
| Sunapee 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Salisbury and Sunapee 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 |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Salisbury and Sunapee 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Sunapee School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.