Compare towns

Cornish vs Lenox 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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

MeasureCornishLenoxSalisbury
People
Population
1,816
5,079Highest
1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3
39% above U.S.
60.1±4.3Highest
54% above U.S.
51.5±4.5Lowest
32% above U.S.
Lenox and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
13.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
40.1%±7.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Lenox 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±$2kLowest
14% above U.S.
$106,080±$31k
31% above U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
Salisbury and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69kLowest
11% below U.S.
$466,700±$43kHighest
40% above U.S.
$363,400±$47k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,091±$238Lowest
23% 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.
$5,299Lowest
70% above U.S.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
47.2%±18.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lenox 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%
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±8.8
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Lenox 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 — #90 of 282 in MA —
School district Cornish School District Lenox Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town None in town Lenox Memorial High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.6
—
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.