Compare towns
Salisbury vs Middlesex vs Springfield 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (9.3% rent).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Middlesex | Springfield | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,609 |
1,943Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Salisbury 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 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.