Compare towns

Cornwall vs Needham 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

Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).

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.

MeasureCornwallNeedhamSalisbury
People
Population
1,208
32,459Highest
1,200Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
50.6±6.5Highest
30% above U.S.
Salisbury and Cornwall 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%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±2.9Highest
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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Cornwall 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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$99,688±$21kLowest
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49k
38% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$306,900±$51kLowest
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,443±$984
about the U.S. average
Needham 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.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Needham 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
11% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Needham and Cornwall 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 — #19 of 282 in MA —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school 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.