Compare towns
Appleton vs Cornish 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
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Appleton | Cornish | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,816Highest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Cornish School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.