Compare towns

Cornish vs Salisbury vs Sutton

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).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

MeasureCornishSalisburySutton
People
Population
1,816
1,609Lowest
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
51.5±4.5
32% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% 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%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Sutton 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%
24.9%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sutton 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.
$111,591±$17k
38% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
Sutton and Salisbury 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.
$363,400±$47k
9% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below 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
$5,796Lowest
86% above U.S.
$5,859
88% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton 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%
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Sutton 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 — — #105 of 282 in MA
School district Cornish School District Merrimack Valley School District Sutton
High school in town None in town None in town Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.6
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.