Compare towns
Cornwall vs Wilbraham vs Strafford 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 people working from home (24.4%).
Wilbraham has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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.
| Measure | Cornwall | Wilbraham | Strafford | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
14,572Highest |
1,372 |
1,200Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Strafford 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% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Strafford 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. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Wilbraham 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. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Wilbraham 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hampden-Wilbraham | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— | — |
| 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.