Compare towns
Strafford vs Hampstead vs Mendon vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Strafford | Hampstead | Mendon | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
9,102Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampstead and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Mendon 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Hampstead School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.