Compare towns
Salisbury vs Reading 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Reading | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
699Lowest |
1,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% 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%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cornish 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.