Compare towns
Acton vs Cornwall vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k 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 | Acton | Cornwall | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
1,208 |
1,200Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Acton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.