Compare towns

Cornish vs Salisbury vs Worcester

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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).

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.

MeasureCornishSalisburyWorcester
People
Population
1,816Highest
1,609
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
51.5±4.5
32% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
21% 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%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
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%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
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%
53%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%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$363,400±$47kHighest
9% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below 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.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% 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
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornish and Worcester 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%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Cornish School District Merrimack Valley School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.