Compare towns

Cornwall vs Salisbury vs Wells vs Whiting

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 people working from home (24.4%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).

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.

MeasureCornwallSalisburyWellsWhiting
People
Population
1,208
1,200
11,713Highest
532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
50.6±6.5
30% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
39.6±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
Wells 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%
16.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Whiting and Cornwall 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%
30.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Whiting and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32kHighest
42% above U.S.
$99,688±$21k
23% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$91,250±$38k
13% above U.S.
Cornwall and Salisbury 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.
$306,900±$51k
8% below U.S.
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
$280,400±$36kLowest
16% below U.S.
Wells and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$1,204±$519
15% below U.S.
Salisbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726Highest
116% above U.S.
$4,842
55% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$4,227
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
58.3%±37.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Whiting 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%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
11% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornwall and Wells 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 — — #22 of 133 in ME —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Wells-Ogunquit CSD Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town None in town None in town Wells High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
—
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.