Compare towns
Salisbury vs Calais 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 the highest household income ($112k).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Calais | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
1,713 |
1,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Calais and Salisbury 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. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859 88% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Cornish 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.