Compare towns
Salisbury vs Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Salisbury | Bellows Falls | Brighton | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,609 |
2,891Highest |
1,167Lowest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% 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 | 20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% 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 | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% 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 | $5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Brighton School District | Cornish School District |
| 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 | 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.