Compare towns

Cornish vs Appleton 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

Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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.

MeasureCornishAppletonSalisbury
People
Population
1,816Highest
1,360Lowest
1,609
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
49.2±7.4Lowest
26% 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
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7
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+
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3
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+
40.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4Highest
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
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$235,600±$33kLowest
29% 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
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,104±$82Lowest
22% 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
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
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
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
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 Cornish School District Appleton Public Schools 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.