Cornish is a quiet town where nature and creativity thrive
Within the Connecticut River Valley, the town of Cornish exemplifies the New England countryside: It is home to four covered bridges, dense patches of forest, farms and tree-covered hills. On its western side, Cornish borders the Connecticut River, which separates New Hampshire from Vermont. “Most of Cornish abuts the Connecticut River; you can literally look across the river and see Vermont,” says Ross Doody, an agent at Century 21 Highview Realty who sells in the area. “It’s a beautiful part of our country—so rural, with big parcels of land.”
Cornish has a history of attracting creative types. Ever since the American Renaissance-style sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens came to the area in 1885, artists and writers have followed suit. Among many other notable names, J.D. Salinger, author of “The Catcher in the Rye,” lived in Cornish for six decades, where he continued to write after publishing his famous 1951 novel. Today, Cornish hosts artist residencies and retreats; many find that this small, quiet town is conducive to working diligently and that the natural landscape sparks inspiration. About 31% of the population is over the age of 65, higher than the national average of 19%.
A national park, forest trails and the Cornish Fair
Visitors can tour the home and gardens of Augustus Saint-Gaudens at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, the only national park in New Hampshire. The park supplies art materials on weekdays, encouraging visitors to use the landscape as inspiration for drawing and painting. There are also several nature preserves in town, including Cornish Town Forest. Here, trails go past wetlands, streams and wind their way up to a lookout point atop Mt. Ascutney, one of the tallest peaks in the region. The trails can also be used for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and biking, and licensed hunters can hunt in the forest.
For 75 years and counting, the Cornish Fair has been bringing live music, carnival food and farm animals to town. It’s the biggest dairy show in the state, and a new dairy barn was constructed in 2021 to accommodate the hundreds of cows. “It’s a big draw; it brings people from all over,” Doody says. “You’re un-American if you don’t go to it.”
Privacy in the Cornish countryside
Roads stretch between hills, paralleling brooks that lead into the Connecticut River. Bright red barns contrast with the lush, green landscape or complement the vibrant, autumnal leaves, depending on the season. Grassy yards typically have trees or gardens, and buyers can expect views of the distant hills. Homes were built between the late 1700s and the early 2000s, so styles vary from Colonial farmhouses to New Traditional homes to midcentury ranch-styles. Prices range from about $200,000 to $1.5 million, depending on home and lot size. As of October 2025, the median single-family sale price is about $570,000. About 85% of homes are owner-occupied.
Nearby highways connect Cornish to the region
Cornish is a car-dependent town with no public transportation. On the other side the river, U.S. Route 5 and Interstate 91 run north-south. To get to Route 5, drivers can cross the Historic Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge. Built in 1866, the bridge remains the world’s longest two-span covered bridge. State Routes 12A and 120 go through Cornish, leading to the neighboring cities of Claremont and Lebanon. “Claremont is closer of a drive—10 to 15 minutes,” Doody says. “Lebanon is a bigger city with more opportunities and more things to do.” Some roads in Cornish have railroad crossings, but Doody says this doesn’t tend to cause traffic holdups. “Trains pass three times a day—Amtrak twice and the freight train at night.” Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center is the nearest hospital, about 3 miles away in Windsor. Valley Regional Hospital is about 10 miles south in Claremont. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is about 90 miles southeast.
Students are zoned for the Cornish School District
Elementary and middle schoolers may attend Cornish Elementary School, rated C-plus on Niche. Its STEAM focus gives students access to tools like robots and 3D printing. It’s a part of the Cornish School District, which is not yet rated on Niche. In Cornish, school choice includes inter- and intra-district open enrollment, a few magnet schools and out-of-district transfers, all subject to space and local approval. High schoolers in the district may choose to attend the A-minus-rated Lebanon High School. Other options include Windsor, Hanover, Hartford or Claremont High Schools. Alternatively, Kimball Union Academy is an A-plus-rated, private boarding high school.
Shopping and dining in Windsor
Residents tend to travel outside the town for shopping and dining, with several options close at hand in the Vermont town of Windsor. Windsor Station Restaurant & Barroom serves dinner and craft beer inside an old train station. Wood-paneled floors, walls and ceilings give the restaurant a rustic, cozy feel, and reservations are recommended for this intimate setting. Windsor’s small downtown area includes more eateries within walking distance of a barber shop, café, bank and other local businesses. Price Chopper is the closest supermarket. In West Lebanon, shoppers can find national retailers like Walmart and a variety of clothing stores at PowerHouse Mall.
