Compare towns

Cornwall vs Acton vs Salisbury vs West Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).

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.

MeasureCornwallActonSalisburyWest Windsor
People
Population
1,208
24,155Highest
1,200
1,171Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+22.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
44.5±0.8Lowest
14% above U.S.
50.6±6.5
30% above U.S.
54±5.9Highest
39% above U.S.
West Windsor and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±10
U.S.: 22%
Acton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±6.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Salisbury and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
West Windsor and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32k
42% above U.S.
$158,230±$14kHighest
96% above U.S.
$99,688±$21kLowest
23% above U.S.
$108,750±$18k
35% above U.S.
Acton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49k
38% above U.S.
$807,300±$20kHighest
143% above U.S.
$306,900±$51kLowest
8% below U.S.
$393,500±$41k
18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206
20% below U.S.
$1,986±$155Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,443±$984
about the U.S. average
$1,100±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
Acton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726
116% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,842Lowest
55% above U.S.
$5,860
88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
11% below U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #13 of 282 in MA — —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Acton-Boxborough Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mount Ascutney School District #86
High school in town None in town Acton-Boxborough Regional High None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.